Ceramic Arts Daily – Bonus Monday Pottery Video: Making Pottery Using Slabs, Coils and Textured Paddles

I’m taking a (much needed!) day off today, Ceramic Arts Daily readers, and I plan to spend it in the studio! But I didn’t want to leave you hanging, so I thought I would send out a bonus Monday pottery video.

This video comes from CAD reader Patricia Bridges. In the video, Patricia makes a slab and coil built pot, then creates texture on it with bamboo paddles. She finishes off with a lovely glaze that enhances the texture. Enjoy and have a good Monday! – Jennifer Harnetty, editor.

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Like handbuilding and texture?
Get your hands on a copy of Sandi Pierantozzi’s DVD
What if? Explorations with Texture and Soft Slabs!

To learn more about Patricia Bridges or see images of her work, please visit http://www.blog.bridgespottery.com/

75 Comments on "Bonus Monday Pottery Video: Making Pottery Using Slabs, Coils and Textured Paddles"

felicia rodriguez November 21, 2012 at 2:19 am -

me encanta su tecnica es muy cincera y preciosa
7 September 12, 2011 at 12:35 pm -

your amazing. i love you
Alex August 25, 2011 at 8:55 am -

Very clear video. The result was beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Ria August 14, 2011 at 12:37 am -

Recently I used a cooking oil to burnish a bone dry pot and the school cat licked the clay untill only the grog was left! It was really funny. Thanks for this demo – will try it out.
Patrcia July 29, 2011 at 5:35 pm -

BRIDGES HERE – THANK YOU ALL for the great comments!
Valli July 29, 2011 at 7:27 am -

Great video! And a beautiful pot – let me re-iterate what several have said and say thank you for showing the process all the way through..so many times we want to see the end product and are disappointed.
Eva July 28, 2011 at 6:38 am -

Sorry, no video to be seen?! Please check, I would love to see it. Thanks. Eva
loretta July 27, 2011 at 7:56 pm -

Why am I not getting the videos?
Mary July 25, 2011 at 2:18 pm -

Excellent video, thanks!
Am July 24, 2011 at 12:50 pm -

What’s WD 40? Just kidding! ;-) Seriously, why don’t people read previous comments before asking the same questions over and over? “Pam” has been explained like six times now. Maybe this will give future video-makers pause before using brand names to describe what they’re using.
John July 24, 2011 at 12:14 pm -

Very nice video. I really appreciate seeing how others make their pottery. I am going to try it for myself. Thanks!
Janet July 24, 2011 at 9:01 am -

This demo was sooo clear and well videoed. Can’t wait to try it. Thanks.
Siobhan July 23, 2011 at 6:26 pm -

It is possible that WD 40 might work also in place of pam oil as a resist. I have not actually tried this myself but I think I have heard others talk about using it when trying to place clay over stones.
Sylvia C. July 23, 2011 at 4:45 pm -

Wonderful! The video was clear, the close ups were of enormous help and the voice over made things doubly clear. Thank you so much for sharing your methods and for doing it in such a terrific way. I use many of the techniques you demonstrated and now have so much more to try. I’ve learned a great deal and look forward to even more from you.
Pamela July 23, 2011 at 10:41 am -

Beautifully produced video! Wonderful demo. Thank you.
Jerry July 22, 2011 at 10:46 am -

nothing came up to view
Barb July 21, 2011 at 9:34 pm -

Great video to share with my students. There were so many helpful idea demonstrated. Thank You.
Kat July 21, 2011 at 8:51 pm -

I never thought coil built pot can be this beautiful !!!
terrence July 21, 2011 at 6:09 pm -

sorry very liitle information no video
Jeff July 20, 2011 at 9:39 pm -

Loved the demo, I want to show my students the video when August rolls around.
Lee July 20, 2011 at 8:26 am -

Excellent tutorial. I picked up tips that will enrich my work as well as my students’. Thanks! http://www.etsy.com/shop/elbrozzie
Victory July 20, 2011 at 12:14 am -

You have a magic touch and thank you for sharing this with those of us in the NW. I too would like to know about the paddles and large extruder. We just opened a studio and appreciate lesson plans for our Boys and Girls club kids, etc. There is magic in clay. We have kids at risk who I think would feel much pride in doing something like this. Thanks again, http://www.oldtownartisanstudio.org
jan July 19, 2011 at 9:23 pm -

AT LAST WE GET IT ALL KEEP IT ALL LIKE THIS AND WE ALL HAVE NOTHING TO MOAN ABOUT. THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE TROUBLE GETTING VIDEOS TO PLAY TAKE YOUR COMPUTER TO A TECHNITION AND GET IT SORTED, NO MORE TROUBLE FRUSTRATION OUT THE DOOR.ME BEEN THERE DONE THAT WOW.
Julie July 19, 2011 at 8:25 pm -

My comment is the same as several others: no video came up to view. I checked the Video FAQ and its suggestions, to no avail. About half of the videos you attach have the same problem. Some work; some don’t. Any ideas about how I can view them?
Dana July 19, 2011 at 5:52 pm -

A friend of mine had her leather hard pots chewed on by mice because she used PAM on them… be sure to keep those delicious pots safe from varmints!
Patrcia July 19, 2011 at 4:33 pm -

BRIDGES Here. PAM is a non-stick spray oil. Most of the time it is found in the oil/baking section. It’s just an aerosol propelled oil. You can also use cornstarch with works just as well. Love all of your comments- Thank You:)
Myra July 19, 2011 at 4:24 pm -

Hi, for the UK clay friend, PAM is a commercial name for a spray on oil. I really enjoyed the film, well done. I love making very large Planter Bowls with coils & patches of decorated clay, but I put designs on the clay I am putting inside a big bowl. The big bowl is the armature, it actually is a stainless steel pizza bowl for making dough,( rather then use the bowl in the inside.) I line the big bowl with newspaper and then when it is almost dry (leather hard) I can remove the clay bowl with the paper. It is easy to peal off the paper, anyway it burns up in the firing. I usually stain the outside so the texture shows through the stain. Of course I wipe some of the stain off after it dries. I often glaze the inside & do not forget to put some holes in the bottom if you are going to place a big plant inside. Enjoy !
Jaci July 19, 2011 at 3:15 pm -

One of the best hand buiding videos I’ve seen. Thanks for the wonderful info. Jaci
lia July 19, 2011 at 1:27 pm -

most of the american video’s i watch are very instructive..This is, however one in the top ten! Thank you. But what on earth is PAM? I live in Europe in Belgium, you know. Is it a cooking oil?People whodon’t know where to buy paddles anvils extruders I can recomment to look in Ceramics Monthly, there you find in the ads al the suppliers you can dream of. Lia
Ingka July 19, 2011 at 11:45 am -

Patricia, you use such an amazing hand extruder, could you tell me what make it is and where I can buy one please? I have an old wooden gadget my mother used for darning socks…which I can use as an anvil!
Ingka July 19, 2011 at 11:26 am -

Thank you SO much for this! I am a self taught ceramic artist and have learnt an awful lot today! Ingka :-)
Rae July 19, 2011 at 3:54 am -

perfect, absolutely loved it, thankyou
Joan July 19, 2011 at 1:32 am -

Hola desde Catalunya (España).Todos sus comentarios están muy bien, pero yo me pregunto ¿no sería mejor usar una rueda para la ceramica,para fabricar el vaso? es más rápido, más equilibrado y menos problemático para cocer. Todo y así tiene su encanto.
Sherry July 18, 2011 at 11:41 pm -

Thanks very good just loves this can hardly wait to get started!!!
Jan July 18, 2011 at 9:16 pm -

Thanks for the lovely, inspiring tutorial. I very much appreciate the details and that you let us see the end product! I found the paddles, anvil and yumi at: http://www.bambootools.com/decorating/Decorating.htm To repeat (as it seems at least one person missed the first answer) PAM is aerosol spray of cooking oil. Thanks again!
Lenore July 18, 2011 at 8:46 pm -

This was a great video!! Thanks for sharing.
tina July 18, 2011 at 8:23 pm -

Very well done and clear video, Thanks so much for giving us new and exciting ideas. Much fodder for new ideas. I thought of using a large wooden knob. Engraving with a dremil tool on wood or plaster for the decorations.Even of wooden(kitchen)spoons. Oh my mind is racing. Thanks again. Much appreciation.
CC July 18, 2011 at 7:38 pm -

That was so cool! Thank you so much. I enjoyed watching this tremendously.
Gail July 18, 2011 at 7:15 pm -

So neat! Thank you!
Chrissie July 18, 2011 at 7:13 pm -

What a fantastic way to coil pots. Pam thats interesting! I wonder if u can use any spray oil such as olive oil? thank u for teaching other ways of making life a little easier when working with clay Thanks again Chrissie M Whitsundays Qld Australia
Kathleen July 18, 2011 at 6:28 pm -

Mel, I put the info up above about the Pam. It’s a light cooking oil in an aerosol can.
Jan July 18, 2011 at 6:10 pm -

Just like others on this comment page: no video came up for me either. This has happened to me a lot, have tried every way to view these videos and followed all instructions and this is very disappointing as I look forward to seeing new video and techniques from other.
Mel July 18, 2011 at 4:46 pm -

Hello. I’m also from England and don’t know what ‘Pam’ is. Can anyone help please?
Karen July 18, 2011 at 4:35 pm -

Great video. I also was wondering about the wooden anvils~~did you make them or is there a source for ordering them? Also, what were the glaze combinations you used on this particular pot? Very nice results~~great to see the finished pot.
ann July 18, 2011 at 4:33 pm -

The anvil is quite easy to make out of clay, and if you make your own you can determine what surface curve you want. Treat yourself to a few, and if you make it, you will use it.
ann July 18, 2011 at 4:30 pm -

Great video. Well done, Thanks.
Cabby July 18, 2011 at 3:35 pm -

Thanks Kathleen! We have a spray oil (low calorie one!!) will try that out!
Am July 18, 2011 at 3:16 pm -

Thank you, thank you for showing the end product! I do very similar hand-building, except that I use rather thicker coils and then pinch them into a thinner wall, achieving a taller pot much quicker. Those coils looked SO big to me, they seem bigger by far than the thickness of the initial slab. If that’s so, they could have been pinched upward and inward, gaining twice as much height out of each coil (and using half the clay!). Thanks for sharing, I have paddle envy!
Kathleen July 18, 2011 at 3:05 pm -

Lauren, I think the rubbing stick is a hard cleaning and sanding stick, here’s a link: http://www.continentalclay.com/detail.php?PID=1097&cat_id=398&sub_categoryID=128 Cabby, Pam is a light oil that comes in an aerosol can. People often use it to keep food from sticking to pans… for cooking, baking, etc.
Loretta July 18, 2011 at 3:00 pm -

Firefox doesn’t seem to have a problem with the video. You might try that browser.
Virginia July 18, 2011 at 2:57 pm -

Thanks for a very clear, informative video. I appreciated the close-ups and your explanations. Thanks, too, for taking us all the way through to glazing. Beautiful piece and great video. Virginia
Cabby July 18, 2011 at 2:47 pm -

Hi, am from Uk and don’t know what ‘Pam’ is?! Brill video, thanks!
Brenda July 18, 2011 at 2:42 pm -

Thank you for sharing.
Terrilynn July 18, 2011 at 2:26 pm -

well, much must have been fixed on the video since 9:24am! I was impressed with it all: video was clear, audio and voice-overs were very clear, demonstration process was very well presented. This is a great example of a demo video. Thank you! I also hope to share it with students! T
Lauren July 18, 2011 at 2:00 pm -

Loved the video. For those who could not see it, it is longer than most, so it may take a minute to load. I am curious about the rubbing stick-What is it or where can I get one? Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful technique!
adi July 18, 2011 at 1:09 pm -

Hi, Patricia. loved your presentation. good video, I do have a question. when you put the round slab on the upside down plastic bowl (a technique i often use as well), how do you manage the surpluses of clay? it doesn’t look as if you fold it and i saw no other cutting marks marks on the slab. will appreciate your advice on that
Kathleen July 18, 2011 at 12:37 pm -

Very fun to watch! Thanks for posting!
Patrcia July 18, 2011 at 12:17 pm -

FROM BRIDGES Pam doesn’t seem to ruin any trimmed clay and it’s a VERY light spritz of it anyway. If it “coats” everything, then it’s too much. You can get the paddles and anvil from bamboo tools on the web. I use a lot of their tools and love them. Thanks for the comments – I enjoy sharing this. I am an x- film/video editor so I enjoy doing these demos.
evelyn July 18, 2011 at 12:14 pm -

No sound?
Jayne July 18, 2011 at 12:04 pm -

No sound! but loved the demo
Patti July 18, 2011 at 11:48 am -

Just love it! The detailed instructions – the finished product – lots of fuel for imagination. Thanks!
Nancy July 18, 2011 at 11:45 am -

I too am interested to find out if the texturing paddles are available for purchase???
Michèle July 18, 2011 at 11:43 am -

il y a quoi dans le pulvérisateur svp…
Wendy July 18, 2011 at 11:27 am -

The video came up but I had no volume.
Nancy July 18, 2011 at 11:10 am -

When using the Pam spray, doesn’t it mess up the (trimmed off) clay for future use?
Jennifer July 18, 2011 at 11:02 am -

Internet Explorer 9 has been giving our viewers problems since we upgraded our player. If you are using IE 9, please try the following: Click on ‘Compatibility View’, which is an icon that looks like a torn piece of paper in the URL box at the upper left of the screen. The video should appear and run. Thanks, ed.
Kelly July 18, 2011 at 11:01 am -

Sharon, Do you have Internet Explorer 9 by any chance. I did and this is what I did. Go to this link – /daily/faq/#Video%20FAQ and then about 3/4 ways down there is a paragraph talking about Video Player Issues: The video won’t play. Once I followed those instructions, I was able to start viewing the videos again. If all else fails… There is more info about what to do if the first steps do not work… It is worth checking into.. the video is good. Kelly
Bonnie July 18, 2011 at 10:41 am -

She sprayed Pam on it.
Sharon July 18, 2011 at 10:37 am -

No video came up for me. Can you let us know why, sure wanted to watch it, also has happened to me on other videos…
celia July 18, 2011 at 10:22 am -

didn’t catch what Patricia sprayed onto the slab so it wouldn’t stick. Could someone tell me please?
Helen July 18, 2011 at 10:16 am -

Very nice. enjoyed the Mendelssohn too. Thanks.
Tiffany July 18, 2011 at 10:06 am -

What a wonderful tutorial. I appreciate her going from beginning to end, and taking you through her glazing process as well! Thanks for sharing!!
Kay July 18, 2011 at 10:06 am -

no video came up for me either. This has happened a lot lately.
Linda July 18, 2011 at 10:02 am -

no video came up at all for me to view
Alice July 18, 2011 at 9:24 am -

I very much appreciated your demonstration and plan to share it with a student who wants to make a large hand built bowl. You were clear, concise and the recording quality was very clear and crisp. I’m curious, though, about the rounded wooden anvil you used on the inside of the pot while paddling – did you make that or is there a source to buy one? Same question about the paddles: Did you make them?

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Bonus Monday Pottery Video: Making Pottery Using Slabs, Coils and Textured Paddles

75 Comments on "Bonus Monday Pottery Video: Making Pottery Using Slabs, Coils and Textured Paddles"

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