How To Learn Ceramic Pottery?

Ceramic pottery is the art of creating various objects from clay that is shaped and then heated at high temperatures in a kiln to harden it. Learning ceramic pottery provides numerous benefits including stimulating creativity, developing patience and persistence, relieving stress, and gaining a sense of accomplishment.

The main steps to learning ceramic pottery involve finding a class, getting the proper supplies, learning essential techniques like throwing and handbuilding, glazing, and firing pieces in a kiln. With practice and patience over time, beginners can master the art of ceramic pottery.

Find a Class

The first step to learning ceramic pottery is to find a class in your local area. Search for pottery classes at community centers, art studios, colleges, or independent studios. Many cities offer beginner wheel throwing or handbuilding classes through parks and recreation programs.

For example, in Buffalo, NY there are several options to take pottery classes including Create It Collective, Buffalo Arts Studio, and classes through the City of Buffalo Division of Parks & Recreation.

You can search online directories like Discover Ceramics and Ceramic Arts Network to find classes nationally. Local subreddits like r/askportland are also a good place to ask for recommendations.

When researching classes, look for options that work for your schedule and experience level. Many studios offer beginner wheel throwing and handbuilding courses in addition to more advanced techniques.

Get Supplies

Before you begin learning pottery, you’ll need to gather some essential supplies and tools. The main items you’ll need are:

• Clay – Choose an appropriate clay for your skill level and desired projects. Popular options are stoneware or porcelain.
• Pottery wheel – Either an electric or kick wheel allows you to throw and center clay.
• Kiln – To fire clay pieces, you’ll need access to a kiln capable of reaching over 2000°F.
• Pottery tools – Basic tools include fettling knives, ribs, trimming tools, cutting wires, and sponges.
• Workspace – Have an area with good ventilation for working with clay and glazes.
• Safety supplies – Use an apron, gloves, and mask when needed.
• Glazes and stains – These finish and color the bisqueware after initial firing.
• Wedging table – Prepare and knead clay on this thick plaster table.

Beginner pottery kits and community studio memberships can provide equipment access. Purchase quality tools that will last for years as skills progress.[1]

Learn Techniques

There are several fundamental techniques to learn in pottery:

Throwing

Throwing is the process of shaping clay on a pottery wheel. It takes practice to center the clay and raise vertical walls evenly. Refer to tutorials like this one from The Pottery Wheel to learn the steps for basic throwing techniques: How to Throw a Bowl on a Potters Wheel.

Handbuilding

Handbuilding involves sculpting clay without the use of a wheel. Techniques include pinching, coiling, and slab building. This video provides a simple introduction to basic handbuilding methods: From digging clay to the fired cup in 8 hours.

Sculpting

For more free-form creations, try sculpting clay into artistic shapes like figures, animals, or abstract forms. Let your imagination guide you. Refer to sculpture books like Making Pottery from Scratch for inspiration and tips.

Glazing

Glazing adds decorative color and effects to finished pottery pieces. Try different techniques like dipping, pouring, brushing, sponging, and more. Test glazes on test tiles before applying them to finished work.

Practice Throwing

Throwing is the process of using a potter’s wheel to shape clay into vessels like bowls, cups, vases or other forms. It requires practice to master the hand-eye coordination and muscle memory needed to center the clay and raise the walls evenly. Here are some key steps to practice:

To center the clay, start with a ball and press down firmly as you start the wheel spinning. Use the pressure of your hands to form the ball into a cone shape and work the clay towards the center. Keep turning up the wheel’s speed as you center. Work gently to avoid distorting the clay.

Once centered, use your thumbs to open up the clay and form a cylinder. Then place both hands inside the cylinder and gently raise the walls upwards using pressure between your fingers and thumbs. Keep the wheel moving at a constant speed and maintain an even pressure as you pull up the walls.

Use a metal rib tool to smooth the outside and compress the clay walls so they are an even thickness. Use a sponge to smooth the rim. Avoid making the walls too thin or they may collapse.

As you gain mastery, you can practice more advanced techniques like altering the cylinder shape, creating lidded forms, or adding decorative elements like fluting or grooves.

Trimming excess clay from the base is also an important skill. Wait until the clay is partially hardened or “leather hard”, then use a special trimming tool to cut away excess clay and create a smooth flat base.

With regular practice on the wheel, you will progressively improve your throwing skills. Don’t get discouraged – it takes time to develop the necessary coordination and strength!

For examples and tutorials, see this video: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/how-to-throw-pottery-for-beginners

Try Handbuilding

Handbuilding is a great alternative or complement to wheel throwing. With handbuilding, you form the clay entirely by hand into pots, sculptures, tiles, and more without the use of a pottery wheel. There are three main handbuilding techniques to try as a beginner:

Pinching

Pinch pots are a simple handbuilding technique to start with. To pinch a pot, take a ball of clay and use your fingers and thumbs to pinch and pull the clay taller and thinner while hollowing out the middle. Pinch pots work well for making small bowls, cups, and vases.The Crucible’s Ceramics Department offers great tutorials on getting started with pinch pots.

Coiling

Coil building involves rolling out and stacking coils of clay on top of each other to build up vessel forms. To make coils, roll clay into long snake-like forms. Add water or slip to each coil to help them adhere as you stack. Coiling works well for making all kinds of pottery forms like jars, bowls, cups, and more. Soul Ceramics provides an excellent overview of the coiling technique.

Slab Building

Slab building involves rolling out flat slabs or sheets of clay and cutting shapes that are joined together. To make slab pieces, roll out clay to an even thickness, cut shapes, add slip, and smooth seams. Simple squares or rectangles can make trays, dishes, and boxes. This technique offers great flexibility for both functional ware and sculpture. Check out ceramist Julie Peel’s slab building tutorial.

Glazing

Glazing is an exciting step in creating ceramic pottery. Glazes are composed of fine particles that fuse to the clay body during the firing process, creating a glass-like coating. There are several types of glazes to explore:

High-fire glazes – These glazes are formulated to mature at high temperatures above 2200°F. High-fire glazes create vibrant colors and effects like crawling, crystallization, and breaking. Popular high-fire glaze types include ash glazes, crystalline glazes, and reduction glazes.

Mid-range glazes – Mid-range glazes mature between 1900-2200°F. These are commonly used in stoneware pottery. Mid-range glazes produce satin and matte surfaces with colors like blue, green, red, and brown.

Low-fire glazes – These glazes mature at lower temperatures, between 1550-1900°F. Low-fire glazes are often used for earthenware and terra cotta clays. They produce bright, opaque colors and glossy surfaces.

There are a variety of glazing techniques to try:

– Dipping – Fully submerging an item in glaze.

– Pouring – Slowly pouring glaze over an object.

– Brushing – Using a brush to apply glaze.

– Spraying – Spraying glaze through an airbrush tool.

– Wax resist – Using wax to create designs before glazing.

Always bisque fire clay pieces before applying glaze. Allow glazes to fully dry before firing. It’s ideal to fire glazed pieces between 20-100°F above the glaze’s recommended range to fully melt and fuse the glaze.

Firing

Firing clay is an essential step in the ceramic process that makes the clay objects durable. There are two main types of kilns used for firing pottery – electric and gas. Electric kilns are the most common for home potters. They are affordable, easy to use, and heat evenly. Gas kilns can reach higher temperatures quickly, but require ventilation and more caution when firing.

The firing process involves gradually raising the temperature in the kiln through various heat ranges over 6-12 hours or more. Low fire is around cone 06 which is about 1700°F. Mid-range firing goes to cone 5-6 around 2200°F. High fire reaches cone 10 about 2350°F. The higher the firing temperature, the denser and more durable the clay becomes. Bisque firing without glaze prepares the clay at a low temperature before a final glaze firing.

Safety is paramount when firing a kiln. Proper ventilation, protective gear, observation of the kiln, and slow cooling are essential. Carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Firing too fast can cause cracks or explosions. Resources like this video provide beginner tips for safe firing.

Get Inspired

Gathering inspiration for your ceramic creations can help get your creative juices flowing. There are many sources to find inspiration:

Browse pottery books, magazines, Pinterest, Instagram accounts, etc. to see the wide range of ceramic art styles. For example, check out the articles “A Source of Inspiration” and “Finding Inspiration” on Ceramic Arts Network for inspiration ideas.

Look at art and objects from other cultures, nature scenes, architecture, and everyday objects for unique shapes, patterns, colors, and textures. Pay attention to negative space and asymmetry. Try sketching some quick inspiration drawings.

Follow ceramic artists online and in person and note techniques or styles you’d like to try. Seeing their process can spark new approaches in your own work.

Visit museums, craft shows, ceramic studios and shops to visually take in a wide variety of styles and methods. This can refresh your artistic eye.

Let the materials guide you – see what forms emerge naturally from the clay. Experiment with combining clays, glazes, textures, etc. in new ways.

While developing your own personal style over time, remain open to new inspiration sources to expand your creativity.

Be Patient & Keep Practicing

Learning the art of pottery takes time and consistent practice. Don’t get discouraged if your early attempts don’t turn out how you envisioned. Making pottery requires developing muscle memory and a feel for the clay that only comes with experience.

Here are some tips for improvement:

• Practice centering clay on the wheel every day, even for just 10-15 minutes. Repeating this fundamental skill is key (see this Reddit thread for centering tips).
• Focus on quality practice rather than quantity. Don’t just make piece after piece without reflection – analyze issues and actively work to correct mistakes.
• Watch tutorial videos to pick up techniques from experienced potters (search YouTube for beginner wheel throwing).
• Take classes to receive expert instruction and feedback. Having an experienced teacher observe your process can illuminate areas for improvement.
• Talk to fellow potters for advice and inspiration. The pottery community is generous about sharing knowledge.
• Look closely at skilled pottery and try emulating forms and styles you admire.
• Be patient with yourself and celebrate small successes. Building skill at pottery takes many years of practice.

With consistent, mindful practice your skills will gradually improve. Don’t compare your starter attempts to master potters – stay focused on your own growth. If you stick with pottery over time, you’ll be amazed at the progress you can make.