The art of pottery always fascinates us with its beautiful shapes and designs. The invention of pottery started with the birth of humans. People prefer handmade pottery over other Mass-produced pots. Pottery has a great future, and many industries are working for this. There is nothing better than the sense of satisfaction you get from pottery. In this article, we will tell you a detailed guide on how to make pottery.
Pottery is the art of expressing your true self and culture. It is therapeutic and relaxing. When you are working on a potter’s wheel and molding Clay, it releases natural energy, and at that time, you can feel that energy-absorbing in the body. Working with Clay can improve eyes/hands coordination and improves the movement of muscles. Clay play can be an animating yet calming movement. If you are interested in creating your kitchenware and gifts, this is the best thing you can ever make.
In this article, we are going to tell you the step-by-step procedure of making pottery.
How To Make Pottery
STEP 1: What you want to make
The first step is to decide what you want to make. If we talk about pottery, then many things are included in its term. Different things are required for different designs according to requirements. If you plan to make small things such as a small bowl or a plate or any other products, you need less material.
STEP 2: Choosing Clay
After you have decided what to make, the next step is to choose a perfect clay for your work. This is the first decision to make, and there are many types of clays available online for pottery. The types of clay include sculpting clay, air-dry clay, low fire clay, high fire clay, etc. We can make homemade clay too.
If you want to make homemade clay, you need 1 cup flour, ½ cup salt, and add ½ cup water and mix well. Mix well till the mixture is smooth and its consistency is non-smooth.
Add acrylic watercolor of your own choice and mix till color spreads uniformly. Keep adding colors to get your desired color.
STEP 3: Select Method
You need to select methods according to your expertise. The easiest way to do this is through a potter’s wheel, slab making, and pinching using hands.
- If you select the Potter’s Wheel, damp it slightly before starting, put clay in the center, and keep molding it according to your required shape.
- Slabs Making is a straightforward method for beginners; all you have to do is form a shape, and then use a plastic bag and dry the object in your workplace.
- Pinching By Hand is an excellent method for small objects and beginners. Take the small piece of clay in your palm and put pressure with your fingers and thumb. By molding, it slowly gives shape as per your requirement.
STEP 4: Maintain The Form
If you are working on a potter’s wheel, then it is very crucial to maintain shape. Once you break the form, you have to mold it again. So, beware of the form, and for that, you may take help from an online video or a professional.
STEP 5: Use String To Cut
Once you are done with molding, and you get your required shape. Cut the form with string from the wheel.
STEP 6: Let It Dry
Let it dry for a while, and after it is ultimately settled, move toward the next step.
STEP 7: Bake Poetry
When your masterpiece is prepared, place the stoneware in an electric furnace.
The temperature should be 850 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 hours. However, introductory terminating takes out any water from the dirt, physical or compound, but doesn’t make the mud re-visitation of mud structure or break.
The outcome is unglazed earthenware, additionally called bisque.
STEP 8: Paint
Cover the table so that colors may not ruin the table and wear an apron. Pottery glazes don’t merely give the piece a superior looking stylish. It additionally seals the earthenware, shielding it from harming water and warmth.
You may apply wax in those areas where you don’t want to apply the glaze. Wax can also be used after using paint to give it a permanent shiny look. Now your pottery is ready to be painted. Paint your favorite designs and embrace your work.
STEP 9: Reheat the Object
After applying, reheat the object, and the kiln size depends upon the size of your object. The temperature you’re going to set for the pottery after the glaze should be at least 2500 degrees F for this stage.
After two hours, increase the kiln’s temperature to (300 degrees for every hour) and increase it up to 400 degrees for each hour. You may adjust the temperature according to your object.
STEP 10: Sanding
Moreover, after this specific time, if your object sat in the kiln and you can’t take it out, then there is a great chance you may lose the shape. You can fix the issue by sanding down the base until you have a smooth surface that won’t make the article wobble on a table or rack.
Basic Equipment Needed For Pottery
First, let’s see what we need as a beginner to make our pottery. We’ll let you know about the basic material required for pottery. You need the following material for making pottery.
Pottery Wheel
Pottery wheels come in both electrical and manually powered. But selecting an electrical wheel is beneficial because you can adjust its speed according to your requirement, and it protects you from physical labor. These wheels provide more control over the object by adjusting speed according to your work demand and expertise.
Manually Operated Wheels are suitable for beginners as the user controls their speed, and it provides too much control on the object.
Kiln
The kiln is the essential equipment if you start pottery as a business or as a hobby. This is a simple device that is used for making pottery. It converts the clay objects into permanent, long-lasting objects. It’s like magic when your objects come out of a kiln.
Thanks to technology, we are not just relying on kilns that only can be operated by burning wood. Today we have kilns that can be operated by gas and electricity. Their temperature can easily be adjusted with easy-to-use temperature guides.
Kilns can be somehow expensive for beginners, so you may borrow them from someone or use it if available in a workshop. Moreover, if you are interested in buying a new one, then there are many options available online at affordable prices. Those kilns are perfect for your home studio. As a beginner, you can also use an oven as an alternative to a kiln if you don’t have one.
Pottery Tools
You can do the work with your hands. There are some tools that you must have, even if you have started pottery by Hand. Those tools are the following:
- Apron & Towels
- Sponges
- Potters Needles
- Cutting Wire & Ribbon Tools
- Wooden Modelling Tools
- Brushes
- Water Tub
You can also read reviews of the best glue for pottery here
FAQS
What is the raw material of Pottery Glaze?
In Pottery Glaze, there are 3 main essential ingredients, which are the following:
- Alumina
- Silica
- Flux
What type of clay is best for pottery?
Porcelain and kaolin clays are considered the best clays available for making pottery. They are large silicate clay and are resistant to high temperatures. They are also very affordable, and if you are interested in making high-quality clay pottery, this is the possible option.
How pottery kiln Work?
A kiln is a place where the magic happens. The High temperature in the kiln magically converts clay into ceramics, which tend to exist in any temperature and environment. There are three types of kilns available in the market: electric, wood, and gas kilns.
How to make clay dry faster?
 Baking is the fastest way to dry clay potteries at standard heat in the oven. If you are using the original Sculpey, it needs to be baked for 15 minutes per quarter inch of thickness. For a piece of 1″ thickness, 45 minutes are required.
Is kiln compulsory to make pottery?
No, you can make pottery without a kiln. But if you are using a kiln, it would be much better. Without a kiln, you may preheat the oven objects at 190 degrees F. With the oven’s help, pots can be dried below the boiling temperature of water for several hours.
Check this interesting guide on top pottery wheels.
Conclusion
If you are a beginner and this is your first time doing pottery, we hope that the steps mentioned above will help you a lot.
It would be best if you created your objects in your defined way, and you’ll get expertise as you mastered these steps. Pottery gives you a sense of relaxation and a good time with nature. It is an excellent way to show yourself-creativity, and this industry has a scope today.
If you find this article beneficial, then let us know in the comment section and many best wishes for your first step into the world of pottery.
References
Rice, Prudence M. “On the origins of pottery.” Journal of archaeological method and theory 6.1 (1999): 1-54.
Skibo, James, James M. Skibo, and Gary Feinman, eds. Pottery and people. University of Utah Press, 1999.
Johnson, Melanie. “The pottery.” Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports 13 (2005): 28-33.