How to Alter Pottery

Pottery can be altered to transform basic clay objects into ceramic sculpture. Use these techniques once you're comfortable throwing basic forms to enhance your ceramic pottery. Here is one way to alter pottery from a thrown cylinder to help build your skills and artistic expression.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Thrown cylinder
• Cheese wire
• Wire loop trimming tool

Shaping the Square

1. Make a square pot by dragging your fingers up the inside clay wall of a freshly thrown cylinder to form an approximate square.

2. Refine the inside corners with a wooden dowel.

3. Wait until a thrown cylinder is leather-hard and square the edges by tapping the pottery on a firm surface while gently pressing it between your hands.

4. Use a wooden paddle to finesse the square.

Shaping the Oval

5. Form a new thrown cylinder.

6. Pull the cylinder to your desired height. Use a trimming tool or knife to scoop clay from the rim to create effects.

7. Apply gentle, even pressure on opposite sides of the vessel with the palms of your hands, pushing inward to form an oval.

Faceting and Incising

8. Throw a thick-walled cylinder then use a cheese wire to shave facets into the outer wall, working evenly on opposite sides.

9. Spin the wheel slowly and place your hand inside the vessel. Gently push out to swell the body and stretch the facets to create a spiral-ribbed effect.

10. Allow the clay to dry leather-hard then select a wire loop trimming tool to cut patterns into the pottery before firing.

Tips & Warnings

• Let thin-walled vessels stiffen slightly before applying pressure or the form may collapse when you alter the pottery.
• Altered clay can shift as it dries so altering pottery requires attention throughout the drying process to maintain the desired shape.
• Taller vessels require slightly thicker bottoms for support. You can trim the base after shaping.
• Don't use altering techniques to mask poorly thrown ceramics.