How to Design Clay Pottery

Shelf of pots, constructed in various ways

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 often the first and most commonly taught techniques in beginning 3D art classes. With these three designs, an artist can produce varied and beautiful works of art.

Things You'll Need

• Clay
• Clay modeling tools

Instructions

Pinch Pots

1. Roll a chunk of fresh clay into a ball that will fit in the palm of your hand.

2. Insert the thumb of your dominant hand into the ball. Push your thumb in about half way, not so far it goes all the way through.

3. Pinch the side of the ball with the fingers of your dominant hand. Your thumb should still be in the ball. Rotate the ball and pinch again. Repeat this until the hole in the ball has widened and the inside of the ball has become a round hollow space, then continue to pinch the walls of the ball (now shaped like a conical pot) until it is a size and shape that pleases you.

Coil Pots

1. Roll a slab of clay using a rolling pin, and cut the slab into the shape that you wish to make your pot. This will be the base of your pot.

2. Roll a long and slender coil of clay in the shape of a snake.

3. Lay down the roll of clay along the edge of the base. Coil the roll all the way around, then lay down another roll on top of the first coil. Keep going until the walls of the pot have been built up to the height you would prefer.

Slab Pots

1. Roll a slab of clay using a rolling pin. Cut the slab into the shape that you'd like to make your pot; this will be the base.

2. Measure one side of the base with a ruler, then roll another slab of clay. Cut the slab of clay to correspond in width to the side of the base that you measured.

3. Attach the side you just cut to the side of the base you measured, and smooth down the edges so the clay stays attached. Repeat this step for the other sides of the base until you have built up all the walls of your pot.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are intending to fire this clay in a kiln, you must score any clay that is attached to another piece of clay. To score the clay, use a modeling tool to draw hash marks along the surface where the clay will be attached, then use a sponge to dribble water onto the hash marks. Score both pieces of clay that will be attached.

References

• Jen Pratt: Small Box Construction
• JH Pottery: Coil Construction
• Ken George Pottery: Pinch Pots