What Is It Called When You Make Vases Out Of Clay?

Pottery, also known as ceramics, refers to objects made from clay that have been shaped and then hardened through firing at high temperatures. Pottery is one of the oldest human inventions, dating back to prehistoric times, with ceramic artifacts found from over 20,000 years ago.

The most common form of pottery is earthenware, which is made from clay, water, and usually silica. To create pottery, the clay is shaped while soft and pliable, often using a potter’s wheel or molded by hand. Once shaped, the clay goes through a drying process before being fired in a kiln to permanently harden it.

One of the most ubiquitous forms of pottery is the clay vase. Vases are vessels used to hold liquids or flowers and have been fashioned by potters across cultures for thousands of years. From ancient Greek amphoras to modern ceramic vases, these decorative yet functional clay vessels continue to be a popular pottery form.

The process of creating a clay vase generally involves wedging and preparing the clay, throwing or handbuilding the vase shape, drying the vase slowly, firing it in a kiln, and optionally applying decorative glazes or finishes. With countless ways to shape, decorate, and fire clay, potters have great creative freedom when making vases.

Gathering Materials

The most important material for pottery making is clay. There are several types of clay that can be used, each with their own properties and characteristics:

Earthenware clay – This is a very common clay type that is widely available and easy to work with. It can be fired at lower temperatures but is porous and absorbs water easily. Earthenware is good for beginners as it is very forgiving. best clay types for pottery making

Stoneware clay – This type of clay can be fired at higher temperatures. It’s less porous than earthenware, more durable, and can hold water. Stoneware clay requires more skill to work with.

Porcelain clay – The purest and most translucent type of clay. Porcelain can be fired at very high temperatures and becomes vitrified, non-porous, and strong. However, it’s difficult to work with and is unsuitable for beginner potters.

In addition to clay, potters will need some basic tools and equipment:

• A potter’s wheel for shaping and throwing pots.
• Modeling tools like ribs, loops, scalpels, and sculpting sticks.
• A kiln for firing and hardening the clay at high temperatures.
• Glazes and slips to apply decorative color finishes.

Having the right materials is key to creating high quality pottery pieces.

Preparing the Clay

Preparing the clay is a critical first step in pottery making. The most common techniques for preparing clay are wedging and kneading. Wedging involves cutting the clay into chunks and then pushing and squeezing it together to homogenize the texture and remove air bubbles. Kneading is done by pressing, folding, and pushing the clay repeatedly to achieve the same goals. Removing air bubbles from the clay is important because trapped air can expand during firing and cause cracks or bursts in the finished pottery piece.[1]

Other techniques like slamming or pounding the clay can also be used to eliminate air pockets. Some clays may require soaking in water prior to wedging or kneading to reach the ideal consistency. The prepared clay should have a uniform texture and firmness, free of cracks and bubbles, before it is ready to be shaped. Proper clay preparation creates the foundation for constructing high quality pottery.

Shaping the Clay

Once the clay has been properly prepared, it’s time to begin shaping it into the desired form. There are several techniques potters use for shaping clay:

Using Hands

One of the most basic ways to shape clay is by using your hands. This direct contact allows you to “feel” the clay and shape it intuitively. Pinch pots, coiled pots, and handbuilt sculpture are all formed primarily by hand. This shaping method takes practice to perfect but allows for a high degree of control and personal expression.

Pottery Wheel

The pottery wheel is the most common tool for throwing clay into symmetrical rounded shapes like bowls, vases, cups, and pitchers. As the wheel spins, the clay can be pushed up into vertical walls, smoothed by hands, and shaped into curves. Using the wheel takes coordination and skill to center the clay and refine the forms.

Molds

For more uniform products, clay can be pressed into, draped over, or poured into molds then allowed to dry. Plaster and bisque molds are common for shaping clay. The finished piece takes on the inverse shape of the mold. Using molds allows consistency and pattern in manufacturing while sacrificing some of the individuality of handmade pieces.

Drying & Firing

Once the clay pottery has been shaped, the next step is drying and firing it. There are a few ways to approach the drying process:

Letting the clay air dry is the most common method. The clay is left out at room temperature to slowly release moisture over hours or days. Air drying prevents cracks and warping. Some tips for effective air drying include drying pots slowly, keeping clay away from direct sun, and storing pieces in a ventilated space (Source).

The next phase is bisque firing. This is the first firing process and it prepares the clay for glazing. Bisque firing turns the clay from greenware into a ceramic material. The clay is heated to around 1100°F – 1600°F to harden the physical structure. Slow heating and cooling is necessary to prevent cracking. Clay must be thoroughly dried before bisque firing (Source).

Finally, glaze firing happens after applying glazes and decorative finishes. Glaze firing melts the glaze materials to create a glass-like coating. Temperatures reach around 1800°F – 2300°F. The glaze bonds with the clay body during this process. Again, slow heating and cooling cycles are critical for success.

Applying Glazes

Glazes are vitreous coatings applied to pottery to provide color, shine, texture and protection. Glazes consist of silica, fluxes, and metal oxides as colorants. Common glaze ingredients include feldspar, kaolin, quartz, dolomite, and talc, among others.

There are several methods for applying glazes to pottery:

• Dipping – The pottery piece is dipped into a bucket or tank filled with liquid glaze.
• Pouring – Glaze is poured directly onto the piece, which is then tilted to allow the glaze to run over the surface.
• Spraying – Glaze is misted onto the piece using a spray gun or atomizer.
• Brushing – A soft bristle brush is used to manually apply glaze.

The dipping method provides the most even, consistent glaze coverage. Spraying allows precise control for layered effects. Brushing can create textured brush stroke effects. The pouring technique allows the glaze to pool in crevices for an organic look.

Proper glaze thickness is about the same as a dime. Too thick of a glaze layer can cause cracking or peeling. Multiple sheer layers are often built up to achieve the right thickness and desired visual effect.

Polishing & Finishing

After the pottery has been fired, it often requires some polishing and finishing to smooth out the surface and enhance the look. One common technique is sanding the pottery. This is done by rubbing various grits of sandpaper across the surface to gradually smooth it out. Start with a coarse grit like 60 or 80 to remove larger imperfections and fire skid marks. Then move to finer grits like 120, 220, and 400 to achieve a smooth, uniform surface.1

Another popular finishing technique is adding decorations like carvings, textures, or painted designs. Carvings can be done using various metal loop or rib tools while the clay is still soft. Textures can be pressed into the clay or created by techniques like sgraffito. Painted designs are often done after firing using colored slips, underglazes, or glazes. These decorations give each finished piece a unique, handcrafted look.

Notable Pottery Techniques

There are several common techniques used in pottery creation. Three of the most notable are:

Coiling

Coiling involves rolling ropes or coils of clay and stacking them on top of each other to build up the walls of a pot. The coils are blended together using fingers or a tool to bond them. Coiling has been used for thousands of years and was one of the earliest techniques for making pottery. Evidence of coiled vessels has been found dating back to 6500 BCE in southern Asia ¹.

Slab Construction

Slab construction involves rolling out flat “slabs” or sheets of clay and cutting shapes that are assembled into the desired form. The seams between slabs may be joined by blending and smoothing the clay. Slab building has been practiced since at least 2500 BCE ². It allows for making large, flat-bottomed vessels and asymmetric forms.

Throwing

Throwing involves using a potter’s wheel to shape clay into symmetrical round vessels. The clay is centered on the wheel and then pulled up into the desired shape as the wheel spins at a constant speed. Throwing enables precise control and thin, even walls. The technique originated around 2500 BCE in Mesopotamia and Egypt ¹.

Notable Potters

Pottery has been an important art form and craft for thousands of years. Over time, many talented potters have emerged, creating innovative works in clay that have made a lasting cultural impact. Here are some of the most famous and influential potters throughout history:

One of the most renowned potters is Josiah Wedgwood, an English potter who lived in the 18th century. He greatly improved pottery manufacturing techniques and created high-quality ornamental wares that were mass produced yet retained artistic quality. His innovative jasperware, with matte decorative motifs on a contrasting polished background, is still popular today.

Bernard Leach was an English studio potter who helped establish the studio pottery movement in Britain in the early 20th century. Inspired by traditional Korean and Japanese pottery, Leach emphasized simplicity, functionality, and Eastern aesthetic principles in his works.

Isamu Noguchi was a prominent Japanese-American sculptor and potter active in the 20th century. Blending Eastern and Western cultures, Noguchi created unique biomorphic sculpture and sleek, modernist ceramics such as his Akari lighting designs.

As one of the most famous 20th century potters, Shoji Hamada is considered a leading figure in the mingei folk-art movement in Japan. His work focused on traditional and functional pottery forms like vases, bowls, and cups.

Other influential potters include Paul Soldner, known for his abstract expressionist raku ware; Marguerite Wildenhain, who helped introduce European pottery techniques to America; and Peter Voulkos, famed for his distinctive abstract sculptural ceramics.

Conclusion

Making pottery is an exciting and creative process that allows for self-expression through the shaping of clay. From gathering raw materials to firing and finishing completed pieces, ceramic artists bring their imaginations to life by sculpting beautiful and unique works of art.

The process of making pottery by hand provides a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. Molding soft clay on the wheel or hand-building vessels using coils or slabs enables artists to transform an ordinary lump of earth into extraordinary objects. The finished result reflects the crafter’s personal vision and artistic sensibilities.

In summary, working with clay to create pottery is an immensely fulfilling and gratifying craft. The ability to manifest one’s creative spirit in tangible form is a gift. Pottery-making allows people to connect with their materials, unlock their ingenuity, and share their talent with the world through handmade ceramic art.