Getting Started
Pinch Pots
This is a great beginning project –all you need is a little clay and your hands.
Working with clay can get messy, but getting messy is part of the fun. You will
want to wear old clothes and your crafting apron. Be sure to cover your table
with newspaper and the plastic table cover.
Remember
– once you open your clay, it will begin to dry out. Place
any unused clay inside a sealed plastic bag.
• Break off a hunk of clay about the size of a ping pong ball and begin
kneading or “wedging” the clay to remove any air bubbles or pockets.
• Roll the clay into a ball. Holding the clay in one hand, insert the thumb of
the other hand into the center. Do not push your thumb all the way through.
The bottom or base of your pot should be ¼ - ¾ inch
(.63cm - 1.90cm)
thick.
• Clay shapes dry from the top first. Keep your lip slightly thicker than the foot
of your pot to help prevent cracking.
Pinch Pots Continued...
Coil Pots
• To slow down the drying time, dampen your hands slightly and run them
over your pot as your work. If the edges crack, apply a little water with your
sponge to smooth them out.
Caution
– use only a small amount of water,
too much water will cause the pot to collapse.
Set your piece aside to dry overnight. Once your piece is completely dry you
can decorate it with paint. Adding the white base coat first will make your colors
more vibrant. The translucent glaze will give your pieces a kiln-like finish. The
acrylic paint strip will give your pottery an opaque finish.
• Take a lump of clay and squeeze it until it resembles a thick rope. Dampen
your hands slightly, and roll the clay. Continue rolling until you get a nice
even rope – approximately ¼ - ½ inch
(.63cm - 1.27cm)
thick. If your rope
is too thin you will not be able to create a pot.
• Wind the rope into a coil to create the base of your pot. Continue winding
the rope to create the sides of your pot. You can also make individual coils
and stack them together to create your pot.
• To bring the pot in, lay the coils towards
the inner edge as you work your way up
the pot. To widen your pot lay the coils on
the outer edge.
• When placing clay pieces together, use
your tool to slightly etch both surfaces.
Dampen and then press the pieces
together. This etching helps hold the
pieces together.
Use sponge to dampen.
Have your cup of water ready and all of your tools close by. Your clay is
separated into three one pound packs. You will not need an entire pound to
make a pot or vase. Start with one third of the package. Put the rest back in a
sealable storage bag.
• As you rotate the ball of clay, use your thumb and fingers to pinch and
form the sides of your pot. As you work, you will leave finger marks. You
can leave them in or smooth them out.
• When your bowl is finished, stabilize the
base by tapping it gently on a flat
surface. Turn the pot over and let it dry
on its lip. Once it dries slightly you can
add texture or smooth the surface using
your clay tools.