Have you heard of the term “greenware”? It refers to clay that’s been molded into the shape you want, but it hasn’t been fired in a kiln yet. The clay goes through 3 stages before it’s ready to be fired, starting as soft and pliable, then becoming firm but still workable (leather hard), and finally…
Did you know that you don’t need to use a pottery wheel to get started with pottery? There are many fun projects you can try by only using your hands and some basic tools. This type of pottery is called handbuilding and allows for various techniques that you can’t easily replicate on a wheel. So…
Coil pottery is a fun way to experience pottery for the first time. And since you don’t need a wheel, you can easily do it at home. But since coil pottery is so unique, you might not really know what kind of projects to work on or where to start. Here you can find 10…
Whether you make pottery yourself or not, painting pottery is a creative and fun way to spend some time. Do you have any boring mugs or plates in your cupboard? Then let’s give them a lick of paint! I’ve collected a long list of pottery painting ideas that hopefully will give any new potter some…
Throwing a pot on a wheel isn’t easy. It takes many tries to make something that looks even slightly symmetrical. Slab pottery on the other hand is much easier to start out with because it requires no expensive pottery wheel and very few techniques. To get started, you’ll only need: Air dry clay Rolling pin…
Ceramics and pottery might be tens of thousands of years old, but even today artists find new and innovative ways to give a unique spin to their pots, plates, and vases. Fortunately, it’s now easier than ever before to look at and be inspired by the work of others. Below, you can find my 10…
You often hear people use the words “ceramics” and “pottery” interchangeably. Admittedly, they are very similar. But there is actually a slight difference between these two words that is important to know. All pottery is considered ceramics, but not all ceramics is considered to be pottery. Continue reading if you want to know more! What…
There is more to pottery and ceramics than simply shaping the clay. One of the steps that is often overlooked by beginners is the glazing process. Glazing might not sound as fun as throwing clay on a wheel at first. But once you start experimenting with different glazes, a whole new work opens up for…
Even though you might not realize it, you can find ceramic materials almost anywhere you go. It is pretty amazing to realize that the techniques and materials that our ancestors discovered are still used to this very day in one way or another. But technology hasn’t stood still! Although we still make and use a…
As a new potter, you may have heard the word “cone” thrown around here and there. People often use this term to describe at what temperature you need to fire clay, or what the maximum temperature of a kiln is. Knowing what cones are and how to convert them to Fahrenheit or Celsius is important…
