Tap into the 216: Billy Ritter 77 Ceramic Studio

In our second installment of Tap into the 216, we visited a local ceramic studio, Billy Ritter 77, to understand how water plays an essential role in the creation of functional and decorative ceramic pieces.

As an experienced artist, Billy Ritter knows exactly what’s needed to craft the perfect ceramic piece, with water serving as the key ingredient. “Water is so crucial to ceramics as a practice and my business as a person that works with clay and pottery. It’s the core of everything that you do” Ritter explained. 

He describes the ceramic-making process as a “big circle” centered on understanding evaporation. The first step in his process begins with selecting the clay of his choice, which is then molded and prepared by kneading to remove air bubbles and create a consistent texture. From there, the clay is ready to be thrown on the wheel.

 
At the wheel, Ritter utilizes a blue tub of water to control his application. Alternating between a sponge and his hands, he adds water consistently throughout the throwing process, allowing the clay to be easily shaped and molded. Once shaped to his liking, the piece is set aside to rest before firing. During this process, water evaporates, causing the molded clay to shrink. 

In the next step, the piece is fired in the kiln, transforming the soft clay into a more durable, pottered object. Afterwards, he uses water again to create a glaze that the object is then brushed or dipped into before it is re-fired in the kiln to prepare for the final process. 

In the final step, water, of course, plays a crucial role in cold finishing, where it wipes away any debris and polishes out any surface imperfections.

Ritter tells us that while water is an integral part of his process, he tries to be “conscious of it,” adding that he believes “it’s a great resource that we all could benefit from appreciating the amazingness of it.”

Thank you to Billy Ritter for sharing his process and showing us how water supports his art!