What Is Clay Handbuilding?

Clay handbuilding is the process of creating pottery, sculptures, and other ceramic artworks by shaping clay with the hands, rather than throwing on a pottery wheel. Handbuilding techniques include pinching, coiling, slab building, and sculpting, and have been used since the earliest days of pottery making over 20,000 years ago.

Some of the key handbuilding techniques include:

• Pinching – Pinching is likely the oldest and simplest handbuilding technique. It involves squeezing and pinching soft clay between the fingers and thumbs to form basic shapes like bowls and figures. Pinch pots date back over 20,000 years to the earliest known pottery vessels.
• Coiling – Coiling involves rolling ropes of clay into long coils and then stacking and connecting the coils to build up 3D shapes. Coiling allows building larger and more intricate shapes than pinching.
• Slab Building – This technique involves rolling out flat sheets or “slabs” of clay that can then be cut, stacked, joined and shaped. Slab building provides versatility in both 2D and 3D forms.

Handbuilding allows artists to create pottery and sculpture in a more organic, customizable way than wheel-throwing. It is an ancient, creative process that is still widely used today by hobbyists and professional ceramic artists.

Pinching

Pinching is one of the most fundamental techniques in clay handbuilding and sculpture. It involves using your fingers, usually just your thumb, index finger, and middle finger, to pinch and pull the clay to create basic forms and details.

Pinching only requires the clay itself and your hands. No additional tools are needed. The process involves taking a ball or lump of clay and pinching it between your fingers to elongate, thin, and manipulate the form. Pinch pots are a classic beginner project, created by pinching the sides of a ball of clay upward to form a basic pot or bowl shape. More intricate forms can be sculpted as well through strategic pinching of details.

Pinching excels at creating organic, asymmetric forms. The technique lends itself well to making pottery like cups, vases, and bowls, as well as sculpture. Pinching enables the artist to be very hands-on with the clay and achieve effects not easily replicated with other techniques. Texture and line can be created through the pinching process.

For examples of what can be achieved with pinching, see these works by ceramic artists like Jennifer McCurdy who creates delicate organic pottery forms using pinching.

Coiling

Coiling is another popular handbuilding technique where coils of rolled clay are stacked and blended together to form the desired shape. It is one of the oldest known techniques for working with clay and has been used for thousands of years to create pottery and sculptures.

To coil build, clay is rolled into long strands called coils. The coils are then stacked on top of one another, starting with larger foundation coils at the base and using progressively smaller coils as you build upwards. The coils are then smoothed together using fingers, wood tools, or paddles to blend the clay and hide the coil joints.

Coiling allows more control over the shape and thickness of the final piece compared to other handbuilding methods. It can be used to create simple bowls and vases as well as more elaborate sculptural forms. Some tools needed for the coiling technique include clay cutting wires, ribs, loop tools, paddles, and rubber tipped shapers.

Coiling is great for making pieces with asymmetrical forms, exaggerated contours, and detailed surface textures. Famous examples of coiled ceramics include Moche portrait vessels from Peru and African technique click for more information pots decorated with rope designs.

To learn more about coiling and see examples, check out these resources:

https://www.claybymi.com/coiling-technique/

https://kirstenwechslberger.com/2015/01/28/hand-building-pottery-workshop/

Slab Building

Slab building is a handbuilding technique where clay slabs are rolled out flat and cut into shapes before being joined together.

The main tools needed for slab building include:[Craig Art Studio]

• Rolling pins
• Slab rollers
• Cutting wires
• Ribs and metal kidney tools for smoothing

To slab build:[2024 Signs and symptoms of thyroid cancer – Thyroid Cancer …]

1. Wedge clay and roll it into a slab using a rolling pin or slab roller
2. Cut the clay slab into desired shapes using cutting wires
3. Smooth the edges using ribs and metal kidney tools
4. Join the clay pieces using slip and scoring techniques
5. Refine the surfaces and add texture as desired

Slab building allows artists to create free-standing sculptural forms as well as functional pottery. It is commonly used to make planters, vases, plates, and decorative wall pieces.

Sculpting

Sculpting is the process of shaping clay to create a three-dimensional artistic object. It allows artists to mold clay into any shape imaginable using their hands and simple tools. Sculpting can be done using any type of clay, but polymer and oil-based clays are common choices for sculptors due to their flexibility and modeling capabilities.

Basic tools needed for sculpting include:

• Clay sculpting tools like loop tools, rib tools, wooden modeling tools, and silicone tools for smoothing, shaping, and texturing the clay
• A work surface like a table, stand, or pottery wheel to support the clay while working
• Clay sculpting wire or armature to support more elaborate sculptures

The sculpting process involves:

1. Shaping the basic form using hands
2. Refining shapes and adding detail using sculpting tools
3. Smoothing and texturing the surface as desired
4. Allowing proper drying time before firing (for clay that requires firing)

Sculptures can depict anything from realistic portraits to abstract shapes. Some examples include human figures, animals, mythical creatures, masks, bowls, abstract geometric art, and more. The sculptor’s imagination and creativity guides the end design.

Texturing

Texturing clay adds visual interest and dimension to handbuilt pieces. There are many different techniques to create textures on clay surfaces using a variety of tools. Some common texturing techniques include:

Sgraffito – Using metal rib tools, loops, or combs to scratch patterns into leather-hard clay. The contrast between the scratched and unscratched surface creates texture.

Incising – Using sharp tools to cut lines or patterns into leather-hard clay. Clay sculpting loops, fettling knives, ceramic ribs, or even toothpicks can be used.

Press molds – Pressing soft clay into textured molds and letting it dry before removing to transfer the texture.

Rolling over textures – Rolling out clay over textured surfaces like lace, burlap, coarse sandpaper, etc. to pick up their patterns.

Carving – Incising designs, patterns, or images into leather-hard clay using various clay carving tools.

Paddling – Rhythmically tapping the clay with a paddle tool made of wood, silicone, or rubber to create an all-over pattern.

Textures can range from geometric patterns to organic textures like wood grain. The textures possibilities are endless. Texturing gives handbuilt pottery more visual flair.

Decorating

Decorating handbuilt clay offers endless creative possibilities. Some of the most popular surface decoration techniques include glazing, stamping, carving, burnishing, and painting. Glazes come in limitless colors and effects. They can be brushed, poured, or sprayed onto bisqueware clay before firing. Stamping involves pressing textured objects into the surface to leave an imprint. Leather-hard clay can be carved using metal loop tools to create patterns. Burnishing compacts the clay surface using a smooth tool, creating sheen. Acrylic paints are commonly used to handpaint imagery onto bisqueware. The fired surface provides a palette for freeform artistic expression.

Notable ceramic artists like Peter Voulkos and Betty Woodman pushed the boundaries of clay decoration with their abstract painted and sculptural works. Experimentation is key to developing personal decorative techniques. Consider using underglazes, colored slips, or embedding found objects. The possibilities are endless. With practice, handbuilders can master an array of approaches to adorn and enliven their handcrafted creations.

For examples and inspiration, see the sources below:

[1] Decorating Pottery Techniques

Firing

Firing is the process of heating clay work in a kiln to permanently harden the clay through sintering. Firing allows the clay work to become ceramic. There are various types of kilns used for firing clay including electric kilns, gas kilns, wood-fired kilns, raku kilns, and pit/saggar firing.

Most electric and gas kilns allow firing to temperatures between 1800-2400°F. Firing typically occurs in multiple stages, with the first stage being a slow bisque firing to around 1600-1800°F. This initial bisque firing prepares the clay for the final glaze firing by removing any moisture and making the piece harder and more durable.

The final firing aims to mature any glazes being used and further harden the clay body. Ramping up and down temperatures slowly is important to prevent cracking. Once the final temperature is reached, the kiln is turned off and allowed to cool gradually before unloading.

Higher temperatures result in more vitrification of the clay body, creating a fully fused, less porous, and more durable ceramic material. However, high temperatures can also cause glaze defects. Most stoneware clays are fired between 2200-2400°F. Earthenware clays, with higher porosity, are typically fired below 2200°F.

Understanding the characteristics of your clay body and glazes allows determining the ideal firing temperature. The kiln and firing process deeply impacts the end result of any ceramic artwork.

Notable Clay Artists

Many artists have exemplified the art of clay handbuilding over the years. Here are some notable clay handbuilding artists to know:

Jessica Stoller is known for her figurative ceramics that blend human features with animal and plant forms. She often sculpts the heads and torsos of women and girls and integrates organic textures and appendages like tentacles, fungus, and vegetation. Stoller handbuilds using the coil technique. https://www.jessicastoller.com/

Erin Furimsky creates imaginative ceramic sculptures of creatures and monsters using handbuilding techniques. She combines slab construction with intricate surface textures and patterns to bring her fantastical beings to life. Furimsky finds inspiration in dreams, myths, and emotions. https://www.erinfurimsky.com/

Ruby Neri constructs large-scale figurative sculptures out of clay using a quick, gestural approach. Her colorful, graffiti-like pieces depict raw and powerful female forms. Neri works intuitively, letting the clay guide the creative process. She often incorporates found materials into her coil-built artworks. https://rubyneri.com/

Peter Christian Johnson sculpts portraits, still lifes, and imaginative scenes from his subconscious using clay and other mixed media. He handbuilds using slabs and coils with intense attention to detail. Johnson aims to capture fleeting moments and ethereal moods through his symbolic ceramic art. https://www.peterchristianjohnson.com/

Conclusion

In summary, clay handbuilding is an ancient yet timeless art form that allows artists to create three-dimensional works using only their hands and simple tools. While the methods of pinching, coiling, and slab construction may seem straightforward at first, they provide endless opportunities for creativity and self-expression.

Working with clay by hand connects the artist directly to the medium in a tactile, intimate way that many find therapeutic and satisfying. The flexibility of handbuilding gives artists freedom to construct functional pottery, abstract sculpture, or anything in between. Decorating and texturing the clay before firing provides additional ways to make each piece unique.

Clay handbuilding will continue to be an important and inspiring technique for aspiring artists learning the foundations of ceramic arts. As a versatile, accessible, and engaging artistic process, clay handbuilding provides an outlet for creativity while developing valuable skills and problem-solving abilities.