Art of Making Clay Pottery or Sculptures

The successful potter must understand the properties of clay, glazes and firing techniques to create strong ceramic pieces.

Preparing the Clay

Clay must be in a homogeneous state, meaning that the moisture and particles are consistently distributed throughout the clay. To create a homogeneous clay body, wedge or knead the clay on a canvas board until the clay is all one color.

Slab Construction

Slab construction consists of rolling out clay, cutting shapes out of clay and piecing those shapes together to create a form. Slab construction is done during the leather-hard stage, in which clay is firm but not dry enough to produce dust.

Connecting Clay

To connect two pieces of clay, score or slit lines in the areas to be connected. Paint slip, which is clay in liquid form, on the two pieces and then slowly push them together.

Bisque-Firing

The clay should be fired after it has reached a bone-dry state. The bisque firing strengthens the pottery and readies it for glazing.

Glazing

Glazes are comprised of minerals and water. Glazes change color during the firing process so one must test-fire the glazes.

Firing

A glaze firing fuses the glaze on the pottery and makes it water-tight. Some potters use alternative firing methods such as ash, soda, salt and raku, which produce unpredictable organic results.

Resources

• Pottery