Can You Make Pottery By Hand?
Pottery is defined as ceramic material that has been shaped by hand into creative or functional objects and hardened by high heat. The making of pottery dates back over 20,000 years, to some of the earliest human civilizations. While methods and styles have evolved immensely over time, the fundamental techniques of handcrafting pottery have remained relatively constant. The process involves shaping clay into a desired form, decorating or glazing the piece, and then firing the pottery in a high-heat kiln to permanently harden it. Pottery produced by hand allows makers to create unique, custom pieces ranging from dishes and vases to sculptures and wall art. Though pottery can also be mass-produced today, many artisans around the world continue to use traditional handbuilding techniques to make one-of-a-kind ceramic ware.
Tools and Materials Needed
Making pottery by hand requires a few key tools and materials:
- Clay – The most essential ingredient. Different types of clay have varying properties when dry or fired, so choose one suitable for your project.
- Pottery wheel – Used for throwing and shaping symmetrical pieces. A motorized wheel allows keeping an even speed.
- Kiln – Fires clay at extremely high temperatures to permanently harden and set it. Kilns can be gas, electric, or wood-fired.
- Modeling tools – Wire loops, ribs, cutters, etc. aid in sculpting, smoothing, detailing, and joining clay.
- Glazes – These glassy coatings are applied before firing to color and decorate the clay. Natural minerals create unique colors and effects.
With just these basic tools and materials, beginners can start handcrafting a wide variety of pottery pieces at home.
Preparing the Clay
Choosing the right type of clay is an important first step in pottery making. For beginners, an earthenware or stoneware clay that has some grog (ground firebrick) is a good choice as it will be easier to work with. For more advanced potters, porcelain clays provide the smoothest finish but can be more difficult to center and shape. The clay must also be wedged properly, which is a process of cutting, folding, and pressing the clay to remove air bubbles and create an even consistency. Allow the wedged clay to become leather-hard, meaning slightly dry but still pliable, before attempting to shape it.
Shaping Methods
There are several techniques that can be used to shape pottery pieces by hand:
Pinched Pots
This is one of the most basic handbuilding techniques. Start with a ball of clay and create an opening by pushing your thumb into the center. Then pinch the clay between your fingers and thumb to pull the walls up and out gradually. Keep pinching and rotating until you achieve the desired shape.
Coiled Pots
With this method, you build up walls with coils or ropes of clay. Roll clay into long snake-like pieces, then stack these coils on top of each other, bonding each layer together. Apply water or “slip” between layers to help fuse them. Smooth the coils together from both sides to eliminate any cracks. Great for making taller vessels.
Slab Built
For this technique, roll out flat, even pieces or “slabs” of clay. Cut and assemble these pieces to form box shapes or curved surfaces. Score the edges then bond slabs together with slip. Let dry partially before refining the shape. Slab building allows for flatter shapes and geometric designs.
Wheel Throwing
This requires a pottery wheel and takes practice to master. Center clay on the wheel then shape it using your fingers and various tools while the wheel spins at a constant speed. Pull up the walls to the needed height. When complete, remove the piece and allow it to stiffen before further refining the shape by hand.
Applying Decorations
After the basic shape of your pottery piece is formed, you can add decorative elements to enhance the look. There are many techniques for decorating handmade pottery:
Carving
Carving involves using tools to cut into the surface of the clay to create patterns and designs. You can carve lines, shapes, textures, and more. Carving is often done on leather-hard clay after some drying has occurred.
Incising
Incising is similar to carving, but involves using sharp tools to scratch finely detailed patterns into the clay surface. Incising requires leather-hard clay so the surface can hold the incised marks.
Stamping
With stamping, you press carved pattern stamps into the clay to imprint designs. Stamped patterns can include geometric shapes, plants, animals, letters, and more. Stamp before the clay gets too firm.
Adding Appliques
Appliques involve attaching additional pieces of shaped and carved clay to the main form. You can make appliques by hand or use molds. Attach appliques once the clay reaches the leather-hard stage using water or slip.
Painting with Slips or Engobes
Slips and engobes are fluid clay mixtures used to coat or paint the surface with extra color and effects. Use brushes, sponges, or other tools to paint on layers of colored slips or engobes to get creative effects. Fire painted pieces slowly to set the colors.
Drying and Firing
After shaping your pottery, it’s crucial to allow it to dry fully before firing. As the clay dries, the water evaporates and the clay hardens. Rushing the drying process can cause cracks or explosions in the kiln. Allow your pottery to air dry for at least a few days, or until no moisture remains. Keep the pottery in a warm, dry area out of direct sunlight during the drying period.
Once fully dry, the pottery is ready for its first firing, called a bisque firing. Bisque firing further hardens the clay through a process of vitrification, which fuses the clay particles together. During bisque firing, the pottery is heated to over 1800°F, transforming the porous clay into a more durable ceramic material. Firing turns the pottery from greenware into bisqueware and prepares it for applying glazes.
After bisque firing, potters apply liquid glazes to the pottery and do a second firing called a glaze firing. Glazes are made from finely ground glass that melts and fuses to the bisqueware surface during firing. Glaze firing occurs around 2200°F, hot enough to melt the glazes which then harden into a glassy coating as the pottery cools. Glazes make the pottery non-porous, add color, and give a glossy finish. The glaze firing transforms the pottery into its final, usable form.
With proper drying, bisque firing, glazing, and glaze firing, handmade pottery achieves the hardness and beauty to become decorative art or functional pieces like mugs, vases, and plates.
Creating Functional Pieces
When making functional pottery pieces like cups, bowls, and plates, there are some important considerations to keep in mind. The thickness of the clay is especially important for items that will hold liquid or food. Walls that are too thin may crack or break under the weight. Aim for walls that are 1/4 inch thick or more for mugs and bowls.
The size of the base or foot of an item is also key. Be sure to make this wide and thick enough to support the weight when full. Handles need to be well attached and shaped in a way that fits comfortably in the hand.
Rims can be shaped into various profiles like a simple taper, gallery flare, or rolled lip. Choose shapes that complement the overall form. Add pouring spouts to pitchers and teapots as needed.
Creating lids requires taking into account the size of the opening you want it to cover. Measure the opening, then fashion a slab about 1/2 inch larger than this diameter. Next, drape the clay over a rounded object to create a dome shape. Refine the lid by trimming any excess clay and blending the edges until it fits neatly into the opening.
Be sure to test functional pieces with water to identify any leaks before firing. Small cracks can be fixed with slip. Larger issues may require rebuilding that section.
Creating Sculptural Pieces
Beyond functional pottery, working with clay allows for immense creative freedom in sculpting decorative works of art. Some techniques for sculpting pieces include:
Coil Pots: This method involves rolling out and stacking coils of clay on top of each other to build up a sculpture’s shape. The coils can be smoothed together or left showing as a decorative texture. Coil building gives great control for sculpting freeform, organic shapes.
Slab Constructed Sculptures: These are made by cutting and stacking flat slabs of clay to form a sculpture. The slabs can be cut into shapes and textures before assembly. Extra clay can also be added to a basic slab structure to further sculpt the form.
Wheel Thrown Decorative Pieces: While wheel throwing is often used for symmetrical pottery, it can also create artful sculptural forms. The centering and raising capabilities allow shapes not possible by hand building. Pieces can be altered or decorated when leather hard for freeform designs.
Clay’s flexibility and forgiving nature makes it ideal for crafting decorative sculptures, figures, wall art, and more. Taking a creative approach allows for personal artistic expression in the sculpting process.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Pottery making by hand poses some common challenges that beginners should be aware of. Here are some of the most frequent issues that come up and how to avoid them:
Cracking
Cracks can occur during the drying or firing process. To prevent cracking:
– Allow your pieces to dry slowly and evenly. Avoid quick drying.
– Use a kiln thermometer and increase temperature gradually.
– Fire pieces to the appropriate temperature based on the clay type.
– When glazing, apply an even coat to prevent uneven contraction and expansion.
– Don’t let pieces touch each other during firing.
Bubbling
Glaze may bubble during firing due to trapped air or moisture in the clay. To prevent bubbling:
– Allow clay pieces to dry thoroughly before bisque firing.
– Allow bisque ware to cool completely before glazing.
– Mix glazes well and apply smoothly in an even coat.
– Fire at the proper temperature for the glaze.
Glaze Flaws
Glaze flaws like cracking, pitting, or orange peel effect can occur due to issues with glaze thickness, firing temperature, or chemical composition. To avoid glaze flaws:
– Test glaze on test tiles before applying it to finished pieces.
– Apply glaze in a consistent thickness across the entire piece.
– Fire pieces at the optimal temperature for the glaze. Over or under-firing can cause flaws.
– Ensure glaze ingredients are weighed accurately and mixed thoroughly.
Conclusion
Making pottery by hand can be a fun and rewarding hobby or profession. The process involves preparing clay, shaping it using different techniques like pinching, coiling, slab building, or throwing on a wheel, applying decorations if desired, and properly drying and firing the pieces. While it takes practice to master the art of hand building pottery, the ability to create functional pieces like mugs, bowls, and vases or sculptural works of art from a simple lump of clay is an amazing skill.
The benefits of making pottery by hand include full creative control over the design process, connection to an ancient art form, and developing new artistic abilities. However, it can be physically demanding and requires patience as pieces may warp or crack if not properly handled. Proper tools, materials, and kiln access are also needed. Overall, hand building pottery is a great hobby for creatively minded individuals looking to get their hands dirty and make something beautiful from start to finish.
To get started in pottery, it’s recommended to take a class at a local arts center or community college to learn techniques from an experienced potter. Useful online resources include instructional videos on ceramic arts YouTube channels and pottery forums where fellow artists share tips. With some practice and persistence, you’ll be amazed at the wonderful pottery creations you can shape using just your own two hands.
