November 18, 2009
Making Music with Clay: How to Make a Ceramic Whistle Flute
Today's post combines two great things: clay and music. In an excerpt from Barry Hall's
From Mud to Music, you'll learn how to make a clay whistle flute step by step.
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November 16, 2009
Lights, Camera, Action: Ceramic Arts Daily Announces Artist Studio Tour Video Contest
Today, in addition to announcing our exciting
Studio Tour Video Contest, I am presenting
another excerpt from Ceramics Monthly's (in-print) Studio Visit series
to get you all thinking about what your video submissions might include. In this
post, potter John Baumann gives us a glimpse into his studio, a
"teensy" oasis in an Indiana industrial park.
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November 13, 2009
The Broomstick Method: Making Cylindrical Pottery Without a Pottery Wheel
In this video, Mitch Lyons demonstrates making a cylindrical form using a series of dowel rods in graduated sizes to hollow out the center. It is a great technique for handbuilding cylinders because you can really do a lot with surface texture.
Watch the video!
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November 11, 2009
Let’s Talk Function: Two Potters Discuss Making Handmade Pottery for Use
Today we are presenting an excerpt from the December 2009 issue of Ceramics Monthly in which several potters included in the 2009 Strictly Functional Pottery National discuss what functional pottery means to them and the qualities necessary to make their utilitarian work successful.
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November 9, 2009
New Ceramic Tile Download Available! How to Design, Make and Install Ceramic Tile Murals and Mosaics: Design Tips and How-To Instructions for Handmade Ceramic Tile Projects
For today's post, I thought I would share an excerpt from our new free download
How to Design, Make and Install Ceramic Tile Murals and Mosaics. In this excerpt, I am presenting a cool technique that Jerry Goldman came up with to make custom ceramic tile mosaics. He started out making mosaics out of shards of commercially manufactured tile, but this method didn't provide him with the colors he desired. So he came up with his own method of casting slab tiles with slip stained with metallic oxides and commercial stains.
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November 6, 2009
Even the Pros Mess Up Spouts! Potter Lorna Meaden Demonstrates “A Great Way to Fix a Spout You Ruined”
Today, Lorna Meaden explains a great way to fix a messed-up pitcher spout by adding coils when the pot is leather hard and re-pulling the spout. Not only is it a great way to fix mess-ups, but it is also a great way to add length to a pulled spout.
Watch the video!
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November 4, 2009
You Say Neriage, I Say Nerikomi…No Matter What You Call it, Mixing Colored Clays Makes for Gorgeous Pottery Surfaces
Today Robin Hopper explains the distinction between neriage and nerikomi, as it was explained to him by Thomas Hoadley, a long time colored clay aficionado. He also explains how to create a lovely marbled rim bowl like the one shown at left.
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November 2, 2009
Adding Dimension to Stenciled Imagery on Pottery
Stenciling is a great decorative technique for pottery. In the latest issue of
Pottery Making Illustrated,
Ann Ruel shares her ideas for getting a stenciled look with more
dimension. I thought her ideas were pretty nifty so I have excerpted
from the article in today's post.
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October 30, 2009
Wheel Throwing Video: How to Throw and Facet a Pitcher on the Pottery Wheel
In today's video, potter Stephen Jepson demonstrates how to throw a pitcher on the pottery wheel and then facet it with a cheese slicer.
Watch the video!
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October 28, 2009
The Month in Clay - November 2009
I am way fired up, folks. I just got back from the Potters Council Expressive Surfaces workshop at Red Star Studios in Kansas City, Missouri. This workshop was EXACTLY what I needed to get motivated about getting into the studio. Not only were the workshop presenters, Lorna Meaden and Mark Peters, superbly awesome, but Red Star has such a great selection of work for sale in their gallery that it was just plain inspiring to take it all in. That's why I advise you all to get out there and look at work. Lots of work! To help you do that, I am presenting some highlights of what's going on this November in this months edition of The Month in ...
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