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.
July 17, 2009
Totally Tubular! A Video Introduction to Using a Clay Extruder
In today's video, and excerpt from his three-disc DVD set Extrude It!, David Hendley gives a helpful introduction to extruders. He shares his expertise on making homemade dies, clearly explains the physics behind using two-part dies and demonstrates how to pull an extrusion using a two-part die.
June 26, 2009
Pottery Decorating Video: Making Beautiful Marks on Pottery with Fluting, Carving and Painting with Wax
In today's video clip, which is excerpted from his DVD
Making Marks (a video adaptation of his popular book), Robin Hopper demonstrates some great fluting, sgraffito and wax resist painting techniques.
January 9, 2009
Ceramics Decorating Video: Slip Cones - Easy-to-Make Pottery Tools for Precise Slip Trailing
In today's video, ceramic artist Charan Sachar shows us how to make a foolproof and ergonomic slip trailer out of some inexpensive materials. Watch the video now! and then make some for yourself. We've also included some step-by-step written instruction on the process.
August 13, 2008
From the Laundry Room to the Clay Studio: Readers Share Clever Tips for Pottery Tools
Today we bring you a couple of great reader-submitted tips for ceramic tools. These tips involve items that you probably already own, but never thought to use for clay studio purposes. Following a laundry theme, ceramic artists Ken Magee of Talahassee, Florida, and Peggy Breidenbach of Indianapolis, Indiana, share ideas for repurposing tools usually used for drying clothes for use in the ceramics studio.
June 27, 2008
Pottery Decorating Video: Using Handmade Bisque Stamps to Apply Texture to Platter Rims
Today’s Video Tip of the Week comes to us from Mark Peters of Pine Root Pottery in North Carolina. Mark takes us, from start to finish, through the process of adding decorative texture to freshly thrown platter rims with bisque stamps. And he makes it look sooooo easy! This is another great technique if you use glazes that break or pool in texture. Give it a try! -Jennifer Harnetty, editor.
June 23, 2008
Custom Dies for the Clay Extruder: Another Pottery Use for Old Credit Cards
With these simple tools, Daryl Baird shows you how to make your own custom extruder dies.
June 16, 2008
Polymer Clay Texture Stamps: Easy to Make Tools for Applying Texture to Ceramic Sculpture or Pottery
Virginia Cartwright's polymer clay stamps are quick and easy to make and even more durable than bisque stamps.
June 11, 2008
Rolling, Rolling, Rolling: Making Roulettes to Add Texture and Depth to Your Pottery
Ceramic artist Andi Fasimpaur explains her simple technique for making roulettes, or rolling stamps, for decorating pottery and ceramic sculpture.
February 15, 2008
Tip of the Week: Quick Change Artist
In today's Tip of the Week, ceramic artist Sylvia Shirley explains a quick-change bat system she developed to make throwing mugs and small bowls in series more efficient.
February 11, 2008
Tip of the Week: Fighting Finger Fatigue
Today Ellen Kong shares a tip she developed after attending a sgraffito workshop. Using cheap and readily available materials, she came up with a way to ease finger and hand strain from intricate carving.
