I create most of my cylinderical pots and plates on a wheel and large bowls and platters using slabs. After the piece is trimmed, I let it dry to leather hard and put a fine clay slip that mixed with a mason stain for color on the pot. Next, I lightly draw on the pot and carve the image outline. Depending on the image I am creating, I may add a color under-glaze at this point. Once the image outline is carved, I do a final carve around the main image with different sized loop tools, similar to wood block carving. Once the pot is dry, I fire it once to 980 degrees C. This gives the pot strength and allows me to dip it in glazes. After the pot is glazed it is fired to 1290 degrees C.