| Pottery is one of the most ancient crafts
and dates back thousands of years to prehistoric eating and
drinking vessels. The clay used in ceramics is a type of earth,
available across the world, which when moist is easy to shape
and when exposed to heat becomes hard and waterproof. It can
be purchased from craft shops and suppliers, as can a range
of tools used to work with clay. This tutorial briefly describes
some of the techniques used to create handmade ceramic goods.
As you become used to using clay you will begin to get a better
feel of ways in which you can use it to produce both practical
and ornamental pieces of work.
Pinch
To create a bowl first push your thumb into a ball of clay and
then pinch the walls. By rotating the piece as you pinch it
you should be able to produce an even thickness. Create a flat
base by gently patting the bottom of the bowl.
Coil
Roll clay on a smooth surface, applying even pressure. When
you have a number of coils roughly the thickness of a pencil,
place them on top of each other. Press the clay together from
the inside. Allow the piece to dry slowly to avoid cracking.
Slab
Work on a smooth flat surface, covered with
cloth or newspaper. Spread out the clay by patting and rolling
it to an even thickness. Cut out the bottom and sides of the
planned object and leave them to dry for about an hour. Then
using a sharp pencil scratch a crosswork pattern where the
edges will meet. Bring the edges of the piece together, using
clay with a custard like consistency to hold them in place.
Using a coil in the corners will increase strength.
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Potters Wheel
It is important to throw the clay into the center of the wheel.
Wet your hands and the clay. Whilst the wheel is spinning, press
the clay into the center. Form an opening in the center of the
clay, keeping the walls even and leaving enough thickness for
the base. Use a sponge to remove any water that collect inside
the piece. Pull the walls up and continue until they are approximately
a quarter of an inch thick. Trim the base and top and by applying
gentle pressure, whilst it rotates, narrow or widen the piece
to obtain the required shape.
Handles
A handle should be strong enough not only
to support the weight of a piece to which it is attached but
also any contents which it might be used to carry. Shape some
clay into a carrot shape and pull it into the correct size
and then allow it to dry. Scratch a crosswork pattern on the
handle and pot where they will meet and use clay with a custard
like consistency to hold them together.
Next
A way to prevent a piece of pottery from cracking as a result
of drying to quickly is to place newspaper over it. This allows
moisture to escape more slowly. Glazes are liquids which can
be applied onto ceramics to provide colour and decoration. and
after firing in a kiln they produce a smooth sealed surface.
To get a list of exhibitors who produce ceramic work
use the Advanced Search on the right of
this page.
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