Learn Pottery Basics and Create Stunning Handmade Pieces

Are you interested in learning pottery but don’t know where to begin? Pottery is a great way to unleash your creativity and make something beautiful with your hands.

Even if you’re looking for a new hobby or want to improve your skills, pottery has endless possibilities.

Thanks to social media, pottery has become very popular, with people fascinated by the calming videos of pottery-making and the satisfaction of creating a stylish, useful piece.

We’ve put together a simple guide on how to make beautiful pottery, what tools you’ll need, and the different types of pottery you can try.

Guide on How to Create Stunning Handmade Pieces

Pottery is made by mixing natural materials like clay, minerals, and water, then shaping them into different forms.

After shaping, the clay is fired in a kiln to harden it and make it heat-resistant. There are various techniques to create both useful and decorative pottery.

The steps are;

1. Select Your Clay

If you are choosing clay for pottery, then it will be better if you use earthenware because it easy to use.

Stoneware is also suitable because it is easy to work with. Porcelain is also strong, it is heat resistant but it is also difficult to manipulate and is a bit costly.

Before modeling the clay it is recommended to first press it to remove as much air as possible.

2. Prepare Your Workspace

Make sure that you select a good table to work on your pottery on, but one that does not allow the clay to stick.

You can install canvas or if you want to place small drywall sheets then it can also be done. Ensure there is enough ventilation to protect your lungs from clay dust and make the floor easy to clean after use.

Make sure there are shelves or tables close by where your pieces can dry without being tampered with for at least three days.

Assembling all the tools that will be necessary: a small bucket of water, a rib, a needle tool and other tools for carving and sharpening. Stay near them as you do your work.

3. Throw Pottery on the Wheel

Throw Pottery on the Wheel

First, take a small portion of clay and estimate it and roll it into a ball. It should be in the center of the wheel, before you start molding the clay you wet your hands.

Punch a hole in the center and press your hand through the base but do not cut through the bottom. Draw the clay up evenly to the walls to be about a quarter inch in thickness.

Separate the pot from the bat using a cutting wire and let the pot dry with a plastic cover left slightly open.

4. Ensure to Dry and Trim Your Pottery

Let your pot dry until it’s at the greenware stage. To trim the bottom, carefully take it off the bat and place it upside down on a clean bat.

Anchor it in place with wet clay and slowly spin the wheel. Use a needle or trimming tool to remove any extra clay from the bottom and edges.

Keep your hand steady and rest your elbow on your knee for support.

5. Bisque Fire Your Pottery

Once your piece is dry and leather-hard, you need to bisque fire it. Bisque firing makes your pottery stronger and ready for glazing.

The temperature and time for bisque firing depend on the type of clay you’re using, whether it’s low, mid, or high-fire clay.

The kiln’s temperature is measured using the cone system, which helps you know when the kiln reaches the right heat and ensures it heats evenly.

Each cone number relates to a specific temperature range. For example, cone 03 means a temperature between 1,960 and 1,987 degrees Fahrenheit.

6. Glaze Fire

After your pottery comes out of the bisque fire, it’s ready to be glazed. Glaze is a protective coating applied to the pottery to decorate it and make it waterproof.

You can get creative with glazes, creating everything from colorful patterns to interesting mineral effects.

To glaze your pottery, mix your glaze, apply it to the bisque piece, and let it dry. Then, place it in the kiln for glaze firing.

The kiln slowly heats up to melt the glaze, then cools down gradually. This process makes the pottery strong, solid, and resistant to water.

What are the Tools for Pottery?

When you are beginning your journey in pottery you do not require many tools for this craft.

Some of the most experienced potters recommend that one should only begin with a few of these ones and then acquire more as one progresses.

Here are some helpful tools for beginners:

1. Cut-off Wire: Used to take off your piece from the wheel.

2. Sponge: Used in clay modelling to help keep the clay wet when shaping it.

3. Sponge on a Stick: Good for wiping off excess water from the inside part of the pot.

4. Chamois: A small piece of chamois is perfect for rubbing the rough edges of pots.

5. Wooden Rib: Used to level the bottom of bowls or dishes.

6. Pin Tool: They are useful in cases where one wants to burst an air bubble or cutting a clay.

Different Types of Pottery

There are three common types of pottery: Earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. Both types are produced from different clays and minerals, and this makes them to have different properties.

1. Earthenware

This type of pottery is not baked at very high temperatures, is more porous and has a matt surface to the touch.

Terracotta is a type of earthenware that is used in making planters, bricks and pipes. It was the most utilized type of pottery until the 18th century.

2. Porcelain

Porcelain is created from a type of clay called kaolin; it is then baked at very high temperatures, which makes it hard and heatproof.

It is commonly applied in tiling of kitchens and bathrooms, in utensils and ornaments.

3. Stoneware

Thrown at high temperatures, stoneware is usually glazed to give it a smooth and non-porous surface.

It is most often earthen in color because of impurities found in the clay and is usually fired and coated with a glaze.

Due to the existence of many techniques, pottery can be an engaging and interesting process, even if the user has not tried anything more complex than hand forming or if they decide to progress to the wheel forming.

It is not too hard to do and with the right equipment, the next time you decide to make pottery, you can make it even more beautiful by glazing and decorating it.

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