How Do You Make A Clay Vase By Hand?

Making ceramic pottery and vases by hand is an ancient and beloved art form that has been practiced for thousands of years across many cultures. The process involves using natural clay and forming it into a vessel shape using a variety of techniques. With some clay, skill, patience and the right tools, anyone can make their own decorative, functional vessels.

While ceramic production methods have become increasingly mechanized over time, the handmade approach provides a more organic, soothing and rewarding experience for artists and hobbyists. Forming clay by hand allows for attentiveness to the material, greater flexibility and control over the final product.

This guide will walk through the complete process of handcrafting a vase from natural clay. We will cover gathering the necessary materials and tools, preparing and kneading the clay, sculpting the basic vase shape, refining the form, adding decorative elements, drying, and finally kiln firing the finished piece. With some practice, you can master the satisfying craft of making beautiful pottery from humble clay using traditional handbuilding techniques.

Gather Materials

The materials you’ll need include:

• Clay – Pottery clay is essential. Look for clay that fires at the temperature your kiln can reach. Stoneware and porcelain clays are common choices.
• Water – Have clean water on hand to moisten the clay as needed while throwing on the wheel.
• Rolling Pin – Use a wooden rolling pin to roll out clay into flat slabs.
• Rib – A metal or wooden rib helps shape and smooth the clay.
• Loop Tool – This metal tool assists in refining details and textures.
• Sponge – A damp sponge smooths the clay surface.
• Kiln – You’ll need access to a kiln that can reach the proper firing temperature for your type of clay, usually around 2,200°F for stoneware.

Gather these before starting to make sure you have what you need on hand.

Prepare the Clay

One of the most important steps in handbuilding a clay vase is properly preparing the clay. This involves wedging, kneading, and removing air bubbles to create a smooth, workable consistency.

Wedging is the process of cutting the clay in half repeatedly and slamming it back together. This works the clay to evenly distribute moisture and remove air pockets. Start with a lump of clay and cut it in half by pressing a wire tool through it. Slam the two halves together, cut in half again at a different angle, and repeat. Do this quickly and with force to warm and soften the clay.

After wedging, knead the clay by pressing into it with the palms of your hands. Push forward while turning the clay. This softens the clay further and bonds the particles together. Knead for a few minutes until the clay is smooth, pliable, and free of cracks.

Check for air bubbles by squeezing the clay between your fingers. Any tiny air pockets will be visible. Pop these with a straight pin and continue kneading. Air bubbles can explode during firing and create weak points in the clay. Make sure to remove them all before moving onto shaping.

Wedging, kneading, and removing air bubbles ensures your clay is ready for throwing consistent, high-quality pots and vases.

Shape the Base

The first step in shaping your clay vase is to create the base. Start by rolling out a slab of clay using a rolling pin or a slab roller. The slab should be roughly 1/4 inch thick. Shape the slab into a circle using a template if desired. The size of the circular base determines the overall size of your vase.

If using a slab roller, run the clay through the rollers on the thickest setting first, then gradually reduce to the desired thickness. Pass the clay through in one direction, rotate it 90 degrees, then pass it through again. This ensures even thickness. Work on a nonporous surface lightly dusted in clay powder to prevent sticking.

Smoothen the surface of the slab by gently rubbing with your palms and softening the edges. The base should have uniform thickness and lie perfectly flat. Use a needle tool to cut away any uneven areas if required. The circular clay slab will form the foundation for building up the vase walls.

Build the Walls

Once you have the clay base formed, it’s time to build up the walls of the vase. There are two main techniques for building up the walls – using slabs or coils of clay.

If using slabs, roll out clay to an even thickness, about 1/4 – 1/2 inch thick. Cut rectangles or shapes out of the slab with a knife or clay cutter. Score the edges of the base and the slabs, then apply water or slip to the scored areas. Firmly attach the clay slabs to the base, smoothing the seams between slabs. Continue cutting and attaching slabs until the desired height is reached.

For a coiled approach, roll clay into long coils, approximately 1/2 inch thick. Score the base and press the first coil onto it, blending it smoothly into the base. Score the top of the first coil and add the next, blending the seams together. Pinch and blend each new coil into the previous one as you build upwards. Use your fingers or tools to smooth any cracks or bumps in the coils.

As you build the walls higher, periodically use your hands and metal ribs or other tools to refine the overall form. Compress the coils or slabs together and smooth away any cracks or uneven areas. Let the clay firm up slightly between adding layers. Continue adding clay until you reach the desired height for the vase walls.

Shape the Neck of the Vase

Once the walls of the clay vase have reached the desired height, it’s time to shape the neck of the vase. This involves gently pulling up the walls to form a narrower opening at the top. As you pull up, use your fingers to smooth out the clay and blend the walls into a tapered neck shape.

Be careful not to pull the clay too thin at the top or the vase may be prone to cracking. Aim for around 1/4-1/2 inch thickness at the rim. Use a rounded modeling tool to further refine the shape of the neck into a graceful curve if needed. Smooth out any lumps or uneven areas with your fingers until you have a symmetrical, elegant neck shape.

The goal is to create an aesthetically pleasing vase opening that also provides sufficient stability. Avoid making the neck too wide or flared. As you shape the neck, continually turn the wheel to maintain an even, centered form.

Refine the Form

Once you have shaped the basic form of your clay vase, it’s time to refine the shape for a smooth, professional look. This process involves using various tools to perfect the contours of the vase.

A loop tool, also called a rib, is essential for refining clay shapes. This thin, blunt metal tool allows you to gently smooth out uneven surfaces. Apply even, gliding pressure as you run the loop tool over areas like the vase’s neck and belly. The loop tool compresses the clay to eliminate bumps, ridges, or cracks.

You can also use your fingers, sponges, and soft paintbrushes for smoothing. Apply a light touch and avoid overworking any area. Use a spray bottle to mist areas that are becoming too dry. The moisture will enable you to continue smoothing out imperfections.

As you refine, frequently step back and inspect your vase from all angles. Identify any portions that need further smoothing or reshaping for balance and symmetry. Pay special attention to the rim of the vase – you want a perfectly smooth edge. Refining the form takes time and patience, but it will elevate your finished vase from a basic shape to a flawless work of art.

Decorate (Optional)

Once the basic form of the vase is complete, there are a variety of decorative techniques that can be used to embellish and beautify it before firing.

Incising

Incising involves using tools to carve lines and patterns into the surface of the leather-hard clay. Sharp items like bamboo skewers, craft sticks, or needle tools work well for incising. Consider incising geometric patterns, textures, or images into the clay. Incising can range from simple lines to intricate designs.

Adding Texture

Interesting textures can be pressed into the clay by using textured items as stamps. Fabric, burlap, leaves, corrugated cardboard, and lace are some examples of found objects that can impart beautiful patterns when pressed into clay. Using clay tools, you can also add patterns by pressing, piercing, or marking the surface.

Coloring Clay

Before firing, clay can be colored using a variety of non-toxic stains, dyes, and paints intended for ceramics. These colorants can be applied with brushes, sponges, and other tools to create monochromatic or multi-colored surfaces. Consider using washes, gradients, patterns, images, or layering colors. Allow colors to dry fully before continuing to work on the piece.

Dry the Vase

Once you’ve shaped your clay vase, it’s important to properly dry it before firing. There are two main methods for drying clay:

Letting Air Dry

Air drying is the most common method for drying handmade clay pieces. To let your vase air dry:

• Place the vase in a dust-free area out of direct sunlight. Direct sun can dry the clay unevenly and cause cracking.
• Make sure the vase is elevated on stilts or spacers so air can circulate underneath.
• Allow the vase to dry slowly over several days. Drying time will vary based on climate and thickness of the clay.
• Resist the urge to speed up drying. Rushing this step risks cracking and weakening of the clay.
• Turn the vase periodically so it dries evenly.
• When dried, the clay should be cool to the touch and have a matte look.

Using a Dehydrator

For faster drying, a food dehydrator can be used:

• Make sure the vase fits inside the dehydrator and the vase is elevated on a rack.
• Set the temperature between 95-115°F.
• Rotate the vase every few hours to ensure even drying.
• Drying time can be 12-24 hours. Check periodically until cool and matte.
• Go slowly to avoid cracking – start with a higher temp and reduce as drying progresses.

Once completely dry, the vase is ready to be bisque fired before applying any glazes and doing a final firing.

Fire the Vase

Once your vase has dried completely, it is ready to be fired in a kiln. Firing is a crucial step that hardens the clay through extremely high heat. There are two firings involved:

Bisque Firing

The first firing is called bisque firing. This is done at a relatively lower temperature, usually around 1100°F to 2100°F. Bisque firing hardens the clay body and makes the vase easier to handle without deforming it. The bisque firing prepares the vase for the application of glaze.

Glazing

After bisque firing, the vase can be decorated with glazes if desired. Glazes are mixtures of minerals that melt and form a glassy coating on the clay surface during firing. There are many types of glazes and colors to choose from. Glazes can be applied via brushing, dipping, or spraying.

Final Firing

The final firing, also known as glaze firing, happens after the vase has been glazed. This firing is done at an even higher temperature, usually between 2200°F to 2400°F. The extreme heat melts the glazes, fusing them to the clay body to form an impervious glass coating. The final firing produces a finished vase ready for use.

With proper drying, bisque firing, glazing, and final firing, you can create a beautiful handmade clay vase that will last for years to come.