If you are making pottery without a wheel, you may be wondering about the best clay for handbuilding. Pottery clay for handbuilding needs to have certain properties. In this article, I will look at what those properties are and which clay you will find them in. The best clay for handbuilding is stoneware or earthenware…
The first step in making coil pottery is learning how to roll a clay coil. This might sound simple, and of course, in some ways, it is. But, it is also a bit of a skill. When I started making coil pots, I was surprised by how tricky it can be to roll a clay…
If you’re new to pottery, you may have the term throwing on the wheel, and wondered, ‘what is wheel throwing’? It’s a curious phrase and open to some misunderstanding. So, this article is all about wheel throwing and what it means. Wheel throwing pottery is the process of shaping clay on the pottery wheel. Throwing…
When I started to make pottery from home, I really just made it up as I went along. En route, I encountered a few practical issues that I had not anticipated. So, I thought it would be helpful to write a simple guide on how to make pottery at home. To help you avoid some…
The first time I saw marbled clay I was intrigued and I wanted to know how it was done. It’s a beautiful way of blending colors on your pottery. So, I wanted to write about the different ways you can make marbled pottery. It’s really pretty simple. You can marble pottery by coloring the clay…
Many people value the aesthetic value of wheel heads. As such, people dedicate their time and resources towards wheel head maintenance. But wheel heads are still prone to corrosion. Perhaps this has left you wondering why has my wheel head corroded on my pottery wheel despite regular maintenance. This article demystifies the causes of wheel…
So, you’ve just thrown your first pot on the wheel and you are feeling proud. But how on earth do you get it off the wheel without squashing it? This post is all about how to remove a pot from the wheel without damaging your pottery. To remove a pot from the wheel, tidy up…
If you want to start a pottery hobby, it can be hard to know where to start. Like all new ventures, it can feel like there is an overwhelming amount of information to learn. But take heart, you only need to take one step at a time. I have put together this handy list of…
You may have one of those crafty, artistic children who like to make things all the time. Or perhaps you have a long school vacation stretching out in front of you. Either way, if you have been wondering what can kids do with clay, you are in the right place. Here are some great ideas…
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The benefit of air dry clay is that it doesn’t need to be fired in a pottery kiln. But can you use air dry clay on a potter’s wheel? Or are you better off using it for hand building? Some air dry clays are made out of materials that feel and behave like plastic. These…
You may find wedging clay tricky if you have any trouble with your wrists or hands. I have had carpal tunnel in both hands, and I find most wedging techniques cause me trouble. Stack and slam wedging is a godsend and makes wedging easy. Plus, it’s quite enjoyable! Stack and slam wire wedging involves stacking…