Clay Pottery

Clay pottery typically cracks after many years of standing outdoors. Cracking is most noticeable in pottery that freezes and thaws year after year. Cracks also develop from stress lines that occur…

Clay that's ready for use and clay items at different stages needs proper storage to prevent drying out. It's essential to organize the pottery studio by storing the ceramic items you're working on…

The term "pottery" refers to fired ceramic wares that contain clay when they are originally being formed. Clay is among the oldest building materials used by humans and is still used to…

Glazed pottery items can be difficult to cut due to the hardness of the glaze and the fragility of the pottery. Glaze is very similar to glass, so it must be treated as such. A diamond-tipped…

Most types of clays will need to be dried using a process called firing. Firing clay is traditionally done in a controlled fire, or in a special oven called a kiln. The heat inside a kiln can reach…

Whether you are using natural or polymer clay for fired pottery, you may pick up your block one day to find it has hardened to a point where you can no longer work with it. Sometimes shipped clay will…

Hundreds of different Native American tribes existed in North America thousands of years before the Europeans arrived. Many of the tribes did not keep written histories, but they left behind…

Pottery glazes strengthen ceramic items and make them less porous. Colored glazes add style, shine and texture to earth-toned clay. If your homemade or commercial glazes have a similar ingredient…

Clay coils are basic items used in pottery, but they may also be applied on various sculpture projects to obtain aesthetically pleasing effects. Clay coils may be formed in several shapes to emphasize…

Accurately and respectfully representing African dress and culture can be challenging to costume designers. A diverse and culturally rich continent, African dress varies by region, nation, time…

Pottery making can be a rewarding art form. Clay pottery, at once functional and decorative, has been created, used and valued throughout time by many different cultures and societies. The art form is…

Making a clay pot or sculpture is a rewarding task in itself. Adding a layer of glaze to it will enhance the piece's finished look as well as protect it and make it water-resistant.

There are many different methods for constructing clay pots. The three most basic designs for hand-built pots are pinch, coil and slab. Methods for building coil pots, pinch pots and slab pots are…

Africa has a long and diverse ceramics tradition. The African continent is larger than Europe and holds many more countries. Also, Africa is the cradle of human civilization--African potters have been…

Mexico is a land of bright colors. Art, pottery, clothing; it doesn't matter. It's also a place where many different cultures have blended together over several centuries. These influences have helped…

There are two basic reasons why you might want to make your own pottery clay and slip. First, in rural areas, it may be a long drive to the city to get it. Second, in large production runs, pottery…

Creating pottery is unique almost by default. Each artist's hands are different and this subtle difference allows them to shape the clay in new and exciting ways. Clay pottery gifts are special to…

Mexican pottery clay is a special type of clay with a reddish-brown hue that can be purchased in art and craft stores. This type of clay is different than other types of clay in that it doesn't have…

Working with clay pottery in a kiln must be completed very carefully with many safety precautions. Firing clay pottery is the most common activity that a kiln is used for, whether it is electric or…

Connecting you multi-piece clay form can be easy if you follow just a few simple steps. Learn to connect your clay pottery pieces with tips from a pottery expert in this free craft video.

It's important to get your clay base edges wet when preparing to connect your multi-piece pottery form. Learn some to prepare your clay pieces for connection with tips from a pottery expert in this…

Learn how to prepare clay for the extruder in this free video clip on pottery techniques.

Learn how to prepare clay for throwing off the hump, a valuable pottery technique, in this free video.

Centering the clay on the pottery wheel will help you shape and mold your clay piece. Learn some tips for centering the clay with tips for a pottery expert in this free craft video.

Preparing the clay is one of the first steps towards throwing a multi-piece pottery form. Learn how to prepare your clay with tips from a pottery expert in this free craft video.

Shape and form pots and pottery and learn about clay formation with expert tips and advice on pottery in this free video.

Shape and form pots and pottery and learn how to shape clay with expert tips and advice on pottery in this free video.

Get your potter's wheel ready! Learn how to compress clay with expert tips and advice on pottery in this free video.

Shape and form pots and pottery and learn how to open clay with expert tips and advice on pottery in this free video.

Get your potter's wheel ready! Learn how to flatten the clay with expert tips and advice on pottery in this free video.

Shape and form pots and pottery and learn how to center clay with expert tips and advice on pottery in this free video.

Shape and form pots and pottery and learn how to wedge clay with expert tips and advice on pottery in this free video.

Get your potter's wheel ready! Learn how to center the clay with expert tips and advice on pottery in this free video.

Shape and form pots and pottery and learn about the types of clay with expert tips and advice on pottery in this free video.

How to prep the clay to form pottery; learn this and more in this free video arts and crafts lesson taught by a pottery making expert.

Clay pottery requires patience and detail with every tool you use to hand craft your piece. Learn about the tools you will need to create a clay pot from an expert in this free video clip.

Trimming clay pottery is very detailed and can easily ruin a mold if care is not taken. Learn exactly how to prepare a mold of clay for trimming from a pottery expert in this free video clip.

Creating a form out of clay is a very detailed process but also a lot of fun. Learn how to pull the side of a large clay dish form in this free video clip from a pottery expert.

Clay coils can be made by hand or with an extruder to be more precise. Learn how to make a clay coil wall by hand from a pottery expert in this free video clip.

Creating a form out of clay is a very detailed process but also a lot of fun. Learn how to pull the side of a large clay dish form in this free video clip from a pottery expert.

Clay coils can be made by hand or with an extruder to be more precise. Learn how to make a clay coil base by hand from a pottery expert in this free video clip.

Creating a form out of clay is a very detailed process but also a lot of fun. Learn how to open the clay for a large dish form in this free video clip from a pottery expert.

Clay coils can be made by hand or with an extruder to be more precise. Learn how to make clay coils by hand from a pottery expert in this free video clip.

When preparing a piece of clay pottery for trimming there is a suction tip that can be done to save time and effort in the process. Learn exactly what and how this is done form a pottery expert in…

When waxing clay pottery sometimes it gets on areas where you do not want it. Learn how to remove it from those areas in this free video clip from a clay expert.

A dripping glaze design technique for clay pottery is a great way to get beautiful and dramatic effects on your pottery. Learn tips on how this is done from a clay expert in this free video clip.

A hydrometer is the best way to find the perfect consistency for your pottery glaze. Learn how to use one from a clay pottery expert in this free video clip.

There are several waxing techniques for clay pottery and dipping is the first of many. Learn why this is an important step in the waxing process int his free video clip from a clay pottery expert.

Waxing a clay pottery lid should be separate from the pot itself. learn how to do that correctly in this free video clip from a clay expert.

Layer glazing clay pottery is a great way to get beautiful and dramatic effects on your pottery. Learn tips on how this is done from a clay expert in this free video clip.

Sponge glazing is only one of endless ways to create fun and beautiful glaze designs on your clay pottery. Learn how this is done from a clay expert in this free video clip.

Using glaze to decorate clay pottery with a filling technique is only limited by your imagination. Learn from a clay expert how to use glaze to decorate your pieces in this free video clip.

Using glaze to decorate clay pottery with a banding technique is only limited by your imagination. Learn from a clay expert how to use glaze to decorate your pieces in this free video clip.

There are a few things that make a spoon rest differ from just a small plate and this free video clip will use a clay pottery expert to show you what to do to create that.

A clay goblet is made in two pieces, the cup and the stem. Learn how to correctly connect these two pieces to complete your goblet from a clay pottery expert in this free video clip.

One of the toughest decisions when creating a clay luminary in the design choice. Learn a few different style ideas from a pottery expert in this free video clip.

It is important to cut air holes in a queso warmer since there will be candles inside of it used for warmth. Learn about the clay cutting design tips that you will need from a pottery expert to create…

Many people think that pottery has to involve a potter's wheel and a lot of practice. But not everyone knows that hand-building is a much easier and fun way to craft a one-of-a-kind piece, using just…