November 20, 2009
Today we have a cool little video from Mark Peters. Mark is so good at taking a simple idea and the most basic of tools - a lump of clay, a sponge, and a stretched-out spring - and turning it into a loose, yet elegant piece of pottery. Have a look and then give this one a try!Already Registered? Please sign in.
For more cool handbuilding techniques, download your free copy of Three Great Handbuilding
Techniques: How to Make Pots Using the Pinch, Coil and Slab Methods!
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.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!November 6, 2009
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!October 16, 2009
We have two videos for you today. For fun, you can watch ceramic sculptor Philippe Faraut sculpt the years away and return an old man to his youth in under two minutes. Plus, you can watch the reverse in real time, complete with expert instructions. Watch the videos!September 25, 2009
We all know that a smile means happy, but what happens to the rest of the face when you smile? Philippe Faraut knows, and today, he'll show us as he transforms a sculpture with a not-so-happy expression into a bright, smiling face (in about four minutes!). Watch the video!September 11, 2009
Handle Pulling Video: Tony Clennell Demonstrates How to Pull Great Looking Handles for Pottery
In an excerpt from his DVD Get a Handle on It, potter Tony Clennell shares his expert advice on handle pulling. Tony shows us that, with a little practice and patience, great-looking pulled handles are within any potter's grasp. Watch the video!September 9, 2009
Master potter and impeccable craftsman Jeffrey Nichols talks about finding one's voice by developing your techniques and your ideas over a period of time. He also demonstrates his accumulated skills by sharing his technique for making a faceted teapot and using his unique decorating technique of layered underglazes.September 2, 2009
Glazing Wheel: A Resourceful Potter Makes the Ideal Tool for Glazing Large Pots
Preferring the look of poured or dipped ceramic glazes to brushed or sprayed, potter Daniel Johnston had to come up with a system of pouring his glazes that minimized waste and gave him the look he wanted. So he came up with the perfect tool - a glazing wheel. Today, Daniel shares how he made his glazing wheel and discusses his glazing technique. Plus, he tells us a little about the large-jar construction techniques he learned in Thailand.August 28, 2009
Ceramic Sculpture Video: An Introduction to Figure Sculpting in Clay
In today's video, ceramic sculptor Philippe Faraut draws on his many years of sculpting experience and his vast knowledge of human anatomy to show us how to sculpt an anatomically correct skull in clay. Watch the video!August 24, 2009
Today potter Dan Gegen explains how he begins working with texture before the construction process even begins, and therefore makes it integral to the design of the pot. He also shares the glaze recipe for the lovely celadon-esque glaze featured on the pot to the left.August 10, 2009
Rustic Handbuilt Work Blurs the Lines Between Functional Pottery and Ceramic Sculpture
Today, Joseph Pintz shares his clay body and glaze recipe he uses to give his work that vintage, rustic look. Plus he talks about the process behind his rough-hewn, handbuilt pottery.July 17, 2009
David Hendley's DVD video series, "Extrude It! Getting the Most From Your Clay Extruder" covers all aspects of using the clay extruder. Volume I deals with extrusions used as handles, feet, and additions, Volume II covers two-part dies that produce hollow extrusions, and Volume III demonstrates using extrusions for building components as well as the expansion box for large extrusions. Buy each volume individually, or order the whole set for a special price. David Hendley began making pottery in 1972 and quickly started using extruders in his work. Since 1990 he has owned and operated Old Farmhouse Pottery in Maydelle, Texas. He has built several extruders and written articles about extruding for Ceramics Monthly and Pottery Making Illustrated magazines. His work ...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.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 8, 2009
Rosette Gault, an expert on paper clay, explains some basics of paper clay preparation and takes you through the process with some step-by-step photographs. Plus she gives some health and safety tips for working with paper clay.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.February 27, 2009
In today's video, we learn about the traditional pottery making techniques in San Jose de Gracia and Patamban, Mexico.February 13, 2009
Handbuilt Pottery Making Video: How to Make a Properly Functioning Handbuilt Spout for a Teapot
Today's video features potter Jeffrey Nichols demonstrating a great technique for a handbuilt teapot spout. In addition to the technique, Jeffrey discusses and gives pointers on what makes a teapot spout function properly.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.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!October 20, 2008
Gone Fishing: Making the Switch from Pottery to Ceramic Sculpture
When Dianna Pittis switched from making pots to making sculpture, she had to invent some clay tools that made it possible for her to realize her vision. Making fish seemed straightforward enough—until she actually started making fish and had to deal with the logistics and technical aspects of building and firing them safely. Below, Pittis explains her process of discovery and invention, as well as her process from forming through firing.September 19, 2008
In today’s pottery video, David Henry returns with a follow up to his pitcher throwing video, which was shown a few weeks back. David takes us through the process of making your very own hand-held clay extruder in his usual down-to-earth manner. With a few readily available and inexpensive parts, you can be well on your way to making your own custom extruded handles for your pots. But handles are not all extruders are good for! Extrusions can provide an element of precise control, with defined edges and form that also strengthen the fragile edge of a piece of pottery. Below, you will find a great idea for using extrusions to enhance the rims of pots. - Jennifer Harnetty, editor.September 15, 2008
A Potter Shares a Simple Technique for Making Texture Stamps with Natural Objects
Woodstock, New York, ceramic artist Meg Oliver make simple plaster texture stamps out of found objects. To make the stamps she uses to create texture on her pottery, Meg usually takes a nice walk in the woods and picks up objects that will make interesting marks in clay . Then, she uses pinch pots and plaster to transform them into fun, free-form stamps. Set aside an afternoon this Fall to try this project for yourself!September 10, 2008
All kinds of musical instruments can be fashioned from clay, with one of the simplest being the ocarina. The project we are presenting today makes an ideal ceramics lesson plan for teachers incorporating basic handbuilding skills. Or it can be a fun project for those who need a break from their regular studio work.September 3, 2008
The Figure in Clay: Ceramic Sculptor Debra Fritts Gives a Sneak Peek of Potters Council Workshop
At the workshop, Debra demonstrated her handbuilding technique, which combines modeling, pinching and coiling for small figurative ceramic sculptures. After small sculptures are constructed, surface decoration was discussed and attendees had the hands-on opportunity to experiment with slips, underglazes, impressions and mark-making to start a surface on wet clay. Today, Debra has offered a glimpse into the surface decoration techniques she went go over at the workshop.June 9, 2008
A New Squeeze: Old Glue Bottles Make Great Clay Studio Tools
Paveen Chunhaswasdikul repurposed an empty glue bottle to come up with this all-in-one tool to use when adjoining two pieces of clay.February 13, 2008
Today, ceramic artist Elina Brandt Hansen explains the method she came up with for getting the bright color she wanted out of her stoneware clay. By dressing her work up in colored porcelain "clothing," she was able to get the look she was after without breaking the bank.February 1, 2008
Today, potter Andi Fasimpaur shares a great tip for an inexpensive work surface for handbuilding. Plus, we'll give you a couple of other great tips for the pottery studio.
