How to Make Pottery

Ceramic greenware is the unfired version of ceramic bisque. Greenware is fragile and can be broken simply by handling it. Never pick up a bowl by the rim, instead pick it up with both hands underneath it. Most ceramics are painted or glazed after they have been fired once. After this first firing greenware becomes ceramic bisque.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Greenware
• Ceramic cleaning tool
• Ceramic sander
• Sponge
• Water
• Bottles of underglaze
• Paint brushes

1. 
   Greenware being removed from mold

   When liquid clay is poured into a mold, the mold leaves raised seams on the greenware. Once the liquid has hardened sufficiently, the greenware is removed from the mold and left to dry completely. In the vase pictured below a seam would appear where the two halves of the mold come together. There would be one seam on opposite sides of the vase.

2. 
   Cleaning greenware being careful to hold it gently

   The cleaning tools are used to take off the seams. This process should not be rushed as it determines the final look of your piece.

3. 
   Sponge made specifically for ceramic use

   Then the sander smoothes the seams. Once this process is complete, the seams should no longer be visible. The sponge is soaked in water and wrung out very thoroughly. This is used to remove any dust that is still on the greenware. Before you can paint your greenware it needs to be dust-free.

4. 
   Different types of underglazes available.

   The process of painting on greenware is called underglazing. Certain glazes are manufactured to be used in this special process. Three layers of underglaze need to be painted in order to get a rich, full color. This is tedious work as each layer of paint needs to be precisely painted on the matching color below without "bleeding" onto another color.

5. 
   Kilns come in many sizes.

   Kilns which can reach up to 2200 degrees are used to "fire" greenware and bisque.

6. 
   The finished product.

   * Once the greenware has been underglazed it is fired and becomes bisque. Now you will paint the entire surface of your object with clear glaze and fire it again. When the piece comes out it is shiny with rich deep colors and the surface is impervious to any stains and can be cleaned with water.

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Tips & Warnings

• Choose carefully the item you wish to underglaze as you will be investing a lot of time in the process of painting it.
• Be sure to thoroughly clean your brushes when changing colors.

Resources

• kiln

[akchrist]

on 6/7/2008 Great article, very detailed. I was reading an article last week about greenware and was wondering what it actually was thanks for explaining it.