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March 5, 2010
Wheel Throwing Video: How to Throw Teabowls Off the Hump on the Pottery Wheel
Throwing off-the-hump is a very helpful technique if you are making a series of a form. You only have to center once so you can really get into a rhythm, which makes it easier to repeat the same size and shape. But as Jerry points out in today's video, it is also a fun exercise for experimenting with variations on a form. Watch the video!February 26, 2010
Porcelain Workshop Video: Meira Mathison, and Tom and Elaine Coleman Share Helpful Pottery Tool Tips
In this clip, Meira Mathison, and Tom and Elaine Coleman talk about some of their favorite tools, such as the "can't live without blanket." Intrigued? Check out the video here!February 19, 2010
Wheel Throwing Video - Fitting Form: How to Alter Wheel Thrown Pottery Using Darts
Today, Lorna Meaden, past and future Potters Council workshop presenter, demonstrates how she darts a wheel-thrown pitcher to alter the shape. She also explains how darting can work really well on pots with handles because of the extra negative space that is created between the handle and the dart. As a bonus, she also quickly shows a really cool way to make a beautiful refined foot that requires little or no trimming. Watch the video!February 5, 2010
Wheel Throwing Video: How to Throw a Large Vase in Two Parts on the Pottery Wheel
In today's video, an excerpt from Stephen Jepson's DVD How to Throw Large Pots, potter Bill Gossman shows us his method for making a large vase in two wheel-thrown sections. Bill has a couple of tricks up his sleeves that I hadn't thought of previously, such as a great technique for centering large amounts of clay. So, check it out!January 22, 2010
Wheel Throwing Video: How to Make a Little Teapot (Short and Stout) on the Pottery Wheel
I finally found a teapot video that is about as succinct as they come - roughly 12 minutes (not bad, considering the process). And the great thing is, it doesn't sacrifice detail and good advice. So, sit back and watch this excerpt from Stephen Jepson's Advanced Throwing Projects and Techniques. When you're done, you should have a darn good foundation for making your own little teapot.January 11, 2010
A Couple of Helpful Tips for the Clay Studio from Ceramic Arts Daily Readers
Clay people are a clever lot. It never ceases to amaze me how many interesting and innovative tools and techniques ceramic artists come up with to make their processes more efficient or to achieve the end result for which they are aiming. And the great thing is, clay people are always willing to share their tips. Today, I'm sharing a couple of those with you here in the Daily.January 8, 2010
In today's video, which was sent to us by Nebraska Educational Telecommunications, a.k.a. NET TV (www.netnebraska.org/television/), Gerit discusses her method of using the pottery wheel to make figurative sculpture. Watch the video!December 7, 2009
How to Make a Gauge for Throwing Consistently Sized Pots on the Pottery Wheel
If you've ever tried to throw multiple pots of the same size and shape, you know that it's tough. Sure, calipers can do the trick, but if you are on such a tight deadline that every second counts, it is nice to not have to stop what you are doing to measure. That's where a throwing gauge comes in handy. Today, Don Adamatis demonstrates how to construct a simple, easy-to-make throwing gauge.December 2, 2009
How to Make Agateware Vessels on the Pottery Wheel
In today's post, an excerpt from the January/February 2010 issue of Pottery Making Illustrated, Michelle Erickson and Robert Hunter explain the important considerations potters need to make when making agateware and demonstrate throwing agateware on the pottery wheel.November 4, 2009
Today Robin Hopper explains the distinction between neriage and nerikomi, as it was explained to him by Thomas Hoadley, a long time colored clay aficionado. He also explains how to create a lovely marbled rim bowl like the one shown at left.October 30, 2009
Wheel Throwing Video: How to Throw and Facet a Pitcher on the Pottery Wheel
In today's video, potter Stephen Jepson demonstrates how to throw a pitcher on the pottery wheel and then facet it with a cheese slicer. Watch the video!October 9, 2009
In today's pottery video, potters Don Ellis and Randy Brodnax playfully demonstrate how, with a little imagination, you can turn your pots into all manner of creatures great and small. Don shows us how to alter a pot into a cat sculpture, while Randy makes a frog out of a pot he slammed onto the ground after throwing. Watch the video!September 18, 2009
In today's video clip, potter Robin Hopper demonstrates throwing a simple sauce boat on the potters wheel, while discussing the aesthetic and functional issues that go into its design. Watch the video now!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.August 21, 2009
Wheel Throwing Video: A Simple Pottery Making Technique Turned Upside Down
Brace yourselves, Ceramic Arts Daily readers. Today's video is going to turn your world upside down! Potter Mark Peters takes a simple pottery wheel throwing technique and turns it on its head. Watch the Video!July 24, 2009
Peas Please: A Potter Talks About the Inspiration and Process Behind her “Sweet Pea” Vessels
In today's video, potter Kim Westad talks about the inspiration behind her work and takes us through the process of making one of her signature forms: the Sweet Pea.July 10, 2009
Mini Pottery Workshop Video: Three Nuggets of Wisdom from an Expert Potter
A couple of years ago, master potter Tom Turner hosted a two-day workshop. Fortunately, for those who were not lucky enough to attend the workshop, he had the whole thing filmed and turned it into a DVD. The DVD is chock full of little nuggets of wisdom that come from Turner's many years of making pottery. I picked out three of those little nuggets to share with you today.May 8, 2009
Wheel Throwing Video: One Pound of Clay - Making Mugs as a Warm-Up Exercise
In this excerpt from his full-length DVD Vessels for Victory, Matt Long demonstrates his mug-throwing technique and explains that making mugs is a great way to warm up in the studio. After all, you are more likely to let go and try new ideas when you are only working with one pound of clay.May 1, 2009
In today's pottery video, potter Gil Stengel demonstrates the coil and throw method for making large pots.April 29, 2009
Ceramic Art: Innovative Techniques touches on the many creative things you can do with clay. During any stage of forming, decorating or firing, infinite variables allow ceramic artists to explore and expand the vast landscape clay has to offer. For more than 10,000 years, clay has been a medium every artist can use.April 10, 2009
Tony Clennell demonstrates how to make a super cool and super big salad bowl, or "Roman bowl" as he calls it, by throwing it in sections on the pottery wheel.March 25, 2009
Making Multiples: Using Templates to Throw Uniform Shapes on the Pottery Wheel
Today potter Bill Schran explains how he makes and uses templates to throw multiples on the pottery wheel.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.January 30, 2009
Even if you think bigger is better, it doesn't necessarily mean that bigger is more difficult. As Tony Clennell demonstrates in his DVD Taking the Macho Out of Bigware, the size of a pot has more to do with technique than with muscle. A few basic throwing techniques—and a clever trick or two—will get you on your way to increasing the scale of what you can make and what you can imagine. We've included a step-by-step recap of the technique below, along with links to more information. - Jennifer Harnetty, editor.January 19, 2009
Texture from Within: Mixing Coarse Materials into a Smooth Clay Body
Gillian Parke shares her technique for getting a very coarse surface texture from a clay body typically chosen for its creamy smooth consistency.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.July 14, 2008
Gallery and Spout Sizing with Corks: A Great Tip for Getting the Right Fit
[caption id="attachment_3499" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="A fired ring with a spigot inserted into its proper hole. The corresponding cork used as the gauge for this hole will be used when throwing."][/caption] Today’s tip addresses a question sent in by a Ceramic Arts Daily reader. This reader wondered if we had any tips for judging the size of a hole on a piece of pottery that is designed to receive a cork, stopper or clock ...July 11, 2008
Wheel Throwing Video: Making a Homemade Wire Faceting Tool and a Wire Faceted Bowl
Today, we have another video from North Carolina potter Mark Peters. In it, Mark demonstrates how to make a homemade wire faceting tool and then shows how to use it to make a lovely loosely faceted bowl on the potters wheel. Next week, we’ll show you Mark’s follow-up video on trimming and glazing these faceted bowls. Plus, Mark will share a glaze and slip recipe that he likes to use on these forms. Stay tuned! -Jennifer Harnetty, editor.March 21, 2008
This Tip of the Week comes to us from Jim Wylder of Lake Oswego, Oregon. Jim got tired of the bat pin holes on his plaster bats chipping and enlarging with wear. So he took matters into his own hands and came up with this creative solution.March 19, 2008
Ryan McKerley shares his technique for creating his unique relief surfaces.March 14, 2008
This week’s Tip of the Week from Jane Johnson Hoeltzel of St. Louis, Missouri, shows us a way to do just that. Work those abs!February 22, 2008
Instant Damp Cabinets: An Easy Way to Dry Your Pottery Slowly
Following Wednesday's newsletter, we received an inquiry on damp cabinets or damp boxes. This reader had never used a damp cabinet and wondered where she could get one. Well, she probably doesn't have to look very far. Chances are she already has the materials to make one right in her studio. Michael Bossin of Sharon, Massachusetts, offers this simple suggestion for a damp box:February 20, 2008
Today, Charlie Tefft explains how he throws and alters his "wren" pitchers.February 18, 2008
Trimming Platters with Altered Rims on the Potters Wheel
Altering the circular form of a plate is an exciting means of expression for ceramic artists, but it can also present difficulties at the trimming stage. If the rim of a plate is cut or manipulated into an asymmetrical shape, or is delicate, the piece cannot simply be inverted onto another bat for trimming. Instead, the piece must be placed on a clay chuck that supports the plate in the center. Today, Sam Hoffman shows us his method for trimming plates with altered rims on the pottery wheel.February 15, 2008
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.
