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Handbuilding Techniques
Handbuilding may be an ancient pottery making technique, but there is no shortage of exciting work being created today by the hands of ceramic artists. Here, we’ll share with you some of the most inventive handbuilt work out there and give step-by-step instruction from the artists making it. Handbuilding projects, from the simple coil built pot to complex slab built sculpture, are covered in detail. Peruse through our archive of articles and videos on handbuilding techniques, whether you want to brush up on a process or start off in a new direction. And, if you haven't already, be sure download your free copy of our 7 Great Pottery Projects for some handbuilding project ideas.
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July 1, 2009
Handle Making Video: Spicing Up Handles on Pottery by Combining Techniques
In this excerpt from his great full-length DVD, Get a Handle On It, Tony Clennell demonstrates a nifty little way to add interest to handles on pottery.
June 22, 2009
Throwing Clay to Achieve Texture and Interest on Assembled Pots
I am happy to announce that Three Great Throwing Techniques: Tips for Throwing Complex Pottery Forms Using Basic Throwing Skills is now available for download! To give you an idea of the great stuff featured in this collection, I am posting an excerpt today.
June 17, 2009
Community Clay: Planning, Organizing, and Constructing a Ceramic Public Art Piece with Students
Today, artist Jan Brown Checco, who specializes in the design, planning and fabrication of community-based artwork, shares her insights into making a ceramic tile mosaic with students.
June 3, 2009
Today, ceramic artist Jason Green explains his process for creating ceramic work on an architectural scale.
May 18, 2009
Today, ceramic artist Marcia Selsor shows us how to make and use her right angle jig, a simple tool she came up with to make building geometric sculpture easier.
May 6, 2009
Circular Logic: Using Balloons as Molds for Spherical Handbuilt Ceramic Sculpture
Today ceramic artist Ursula Goebels-Ellis explains how she uses balloons to create her spherical sculptures. She also shares a clay body recipe that she tweaked to work perfectly for this technique.
April 13, 2009
Go Figure: Combining Simple Handbuilding Techniques to Make Figurative Sculptures
In today's post, ceramic artist Dee Schaad presents a project that combines two simple handbuilding techniques – pinching and soft slab building - to make figurative sculptures.
April 1, 2009
At first glance, one might assume that Shuji Ikeda's baskets (like the one at the left) are woven out of reeds. But Ikeda uses slabs and extruded pieces of clay to painstakingly construct these forms. Today, he shares how he makes his "tsuchi kago" or clay baskets out of extruded clay.
March 23, 2009
Ceramic artist Linda Mau explains how she creates lightweight ceramic sculpture using paper clay and steel.
March 9, 2009
The Reassembled Ring Teapot: A Different Way of Looking at a Favorite Pottery Form
Looking for some interesting new ideas for the teapot form? Today we'll show you how potter Ray Bub throws and assembles teapots that would make Picasso proud.
March 2, 2009
Biomimicry: Using Slabs, Coils and Other Handbuilding Techniques to Create Lively Sculpture
Today, we'll explain how ceramic artist Eva Kwong uses slabs, coils and other handbuilding techniques to make her biologically influenced ceramic sculptures.
February 27, 2009
In today's video, we learn about the traditional pottery making techniques in San Jose de Gracia and Patamban, Mexico.
February 24, 2009
Clay Sketches and Templates: Methods for Transforming Ideas into Objects
In the upcoming April issue of Ceramics Monthly there is a full-length feature article on potter Liz Zlot Summerfield. Today, we'll give you a sneak peek of the work you can expect to see in the article and share a little bit of Liz's handbuilding process.
January 26, 2009
Lose Weight, Get Strong: Put Your Ceramic Work on the Paper Clay Diet
Paper clay improves joining capabilities and decreases warping and shrinkage, all the while reducing the heft of the work. This makes it ideal for building complex or delicate ceramic sculpture. Ceramic artist Lisa Merida-Paytes extols the virtues of paper clay in the upcoming issue of Pottery Making Illustrated and today we're giving you a preview of that article.
January 21, 2009
Quilting with Clay: A Handbuilt Soft Slab Ceramic Wall Art Project
Ceramic artist Amy Sander's work, which includes functional pottery as well as decorative wall pieces, has the appearance of soft quilted fabric although it is made of fired clay. Today, Amy shares her process for creating patchwork ceramic wall art.
January 16, 2009
Handle Making Video: Can You Handle It? Great Techniques for Textured Handles
Today, in a clip from his full-length DVD, Get a Handle On It, Tony Clennell demonstrates a couple of great methods for making attractive coil-built handles for functional pottery.
December 22, 2008
What a Relief: Make a Great Impression with Slab-built Ceramic Wall Art
Where do you find inspiration for your art? For some it is in nature, for some inspiration lies in the work of a favorite artist, for others, it can be found in their friends or family. But inspiration doesn't always have to come from things traditionally thought of as beautiful or profound. As ceramic artist David Gamble demonstrates, mundane objects can serve as inspiration too. All you have to do is look around with an open mind. Today, we'll show you how David turned manhole covers and sewer grates into wall-worthy art. Plus, as a follow up to a request from a Ceramic Arts Daily subscriber, we’ll show you a great way to hang wall tiles. Enjoy!
December 15, 2008
Magnificent Marbling: Using Colored Slips to Create Marbled Patterning on Pottery
Slip, glorious slip. This versatile liquid form of clay can be used in a multitude of different ways to create and embellish ceramic art. The upcoming issue of Pottery Making Illustrated features a fantastic article on using colored slips to create a marbleized look on pottery, which is reminiscent of Staffordshire-style English marbled slipware. Today, I thought I would present an excerpt to give you a sneak peek of the article. Enjoy!
December 3, 2008
Inspired by Terra Sigillata: A New Twist on an Ancient Surface Technique
When I think of terra sigillata, I think of the soft, satin surfaces of low-fired earthenware, like Greek red and black ware that still has that great surface sheen. But Anne Fløche has taken terra sigillata in a different direction. She's allowed herself to use it in a way that goes against tradition, but is true to her own inspiration and way of working. This is a classic example of taking a tried-and-true technique and making it personal. Whether you're using terra sigillata in a traditional manner or pushing it to try something new, Fløche provides a great tutorial (and a recipe) for making this versatile material.
November 17, 2008
Protecting Your Pottery and Ceramic Sculpture: Hints for Even Drying
Sometimes, when I'm really on a roll in the studio, I find it difficult to be patient and let the work dictate the pace of the process. If it's not ready to be trimmed, and I go ahead and trim it while it's too soft, I pay the price in deformation or S-cracks after firing (from not compressing during trimming). The same can be true with drying. Rushing the process is almost never good. Luckily, it's not difficult to dry your work evenly—assuming you can make yourself leave it alone. In today's feature, Snail Scott walks us through the basics of drying and some simple ways to ensure success.
