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Buying the right pottery clay is one of the keys to your success in the studio. There are many variables that determine the right pottery clay for your needs including color, temperature range, the type of pottery you make, and what kind of forming methods you use, just to name a few. When someone offers you a bunch of free clay, watch out! Most of the value in a piece of pottery is in the time and effort you invest, and the clay is one of the least expensive elements.
| Successful Tips for Buying and Using Pottery Clay How to Select the Right Clay, Estimate Your Clay Needs, and Test Clays for Better Results includes the following: | |
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Selecting a Clay Body by Bill Jones Most potters use commercially-prepared clays, and ceramic suppliers and clay manufacturers want to make sure you’re getting the clay you need. Here’s a checklist for selecting the right pottery clay for you whether it’s earthenware, stoneware or porcelain. |
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Buying Porcelain by Antoinette Badenhorst The lure of porcelain can be so irresistible! Working with a pottery clay that’s smooth, white, and translucent certainly has its appeal, but at what cost? Working with porcelain takes a bit of a change in how you work, what you make, and what your skill level is. Check out what it may take for you to switch — porcelain may be just the thing! |
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Cooking with Ovenware Clay by Jonathan Kaplan Wouldn’t you love to show off your work by baking a favorite dish in it? Clay has been used in the oven for centuries, but there are a few limitations when it comes to using just any pottery clay. Find out some of the characteristics you need to consider before you use your work in the oven, then bon appetite! |
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How Much Clay Do You Need? by Robin Hopper For potters it’s hard to visualize just how much clay you need to last a month or three months or six months. But if you know that you can get 50 coffee mugs from a 50 lb. box of clay, you at least have an idea of what you’ll need before you order again. If you make a chart like Robin Hopper’s, you’ll be able to judge your clay supply with no problem. |
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How to Wedge Pottery Clay by Michael Wendt No potter really likes to wedge, but it’s a necessary step in getting clay uniform for throwing or handbuilding. While spiral wedging is widely practiced, over time it’s hard on the hands and wrists. With this stack and slam method of wedging, you can blend colors, textures, and moisture levels into a smooth blend in just minutes without pain. |
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Clay Mixers and Pug Mills by Bill Jones If you use a lot of clay, maybe a clay mixer or a pug mill is for you. These versatile machines take a lot of the work out of mixing your own pottery clay, reclaiming scraps, and preparing clay for throwing and handbuilding. Here’s a look at what’s available and the different types of machines you can choose from. |
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Understanding Pottery Clay by Paul A. Wandless Pottery clay bodies have the potential to be really versatile. The more we know about a clay body, the more we can understand its limits — how high will it fire, how low can it go, what happens to the color? You may just find that you have a whole lot of choices with your clay that you just didn’t know about. Here’s how to test your clay body. |
Glossary by Vince Pitelka You’ll find this glossary helpful when deciphering the unique language of clay. |
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About Ceramic Arts Daily:
Ceramic Arts Daily is a free online website and newsletter written and produced for the benefit of potters and ceramic artists worldwide. The newsletter features both renowned and emerging artists, their work, techniques and artistic perspectives. Regular features include tips and techniques designed to help every artist expand their skill set and widen their artistic horizons. Ceramic Arts Daily also delivers video tips, in which potters and ceramic artists demonstrate various projects and processes. Think of them as e-workshops! Ceramic Arts Daily is designed to be interactive, inviting your comments and fostering a community in which each person can contribute to the growth of their own and others’ skills. You may be surprised at what you learn! Ceramic artists on Ceramic Arts Daily know what ceramic art is all about - from functional pottery to abstract ceramic sculpture. This is about community. You’ll be drawn in by artists’ stories, inspired by their work and find confidence to try some of their techniques. With Ceramic Arts Daily, you’ll learn a little bit of everything. Then you can choose the techniques you enjoy the most to create something new! So start today by downloading our free Successful Tips for Buying and Using Pottery Clay How to Select the Right Clay, Estimate Your Clay Needs, and Test Clays for Better Results. Then, get ready for Ceramic Arts Daily to introduce you to new artists and show you new techniques! |
