How To: Decorate ceramics with a torch
Try using a blowtorch to dry the outer portion of a ceramic pot. While the clay is still on the pottery wheel, cut light marks into the outer wall of the pot. Dry the outermost layer of wet clay with a blowtorch. When you continue to stretch and form the wet clay on the wheel, witness an interesting cracking effect.
How To: Build a small downdraft kiln with Simon Leach
In this 2 part how-to video, Simon Leach, who normally shows you how to make pottery, instead shows you something else. In this tutorial, Leach shows you how to make and build a small propane downdraft kiln. Follow along with Simon Leach, and you too could be building your own kiln in your backyard.
How To: Use aluminum cans as armatures for shaping and baking polymer clay
You're probably wondering why in the world you would throw an aluminum can into an oven to bake, but differently shaped aluminum cans are actually a polymer clay hobbyist's best friend when it comes to shaping clay and making the shape stay.
How To: Put a handle on a ceramic mug
When you're putting a handle on a mug, you need to think about the state of the clay of both the mug and the handle. The ceramic clay needs to be a bit harder and drier than right after coming off the pottery wheel or being sculpted, but not so dry that the clay won't stick. Check out this video pottery-making tutorial and learn how to attach a handle onto a ceramic mug.
How To: Turn a pot on the potter's wheel
Check out this video to see how to turn a clay pot on a potter's wheel.
How To: Convert an old electric kiln into a propane gas kiln
You may love your old electric kiln like a child, but it's time to get in touch with the times and update that sucker! Watch this ceramics tutorial by potter Simon Leach to learn how to turn your old electric kiln into a snazzy new propane gas kiln.
How To: Throw a ceramic bottle or bud vase on a pottery wheel
A bud vase is a small vase, about as large as a bottle, which holds small flowers - or buds. This tutorial shows you a few different methods you can use to throw one of these small vases on a pottery wheel.
How To: Fit a lamp base into pottery with Simon Leach
In this video by Simon Leach, we learn how to fit a lamp base into pottery with Simon Leach. First, you will take the lamp base that has all the wires inside of it. From here, you will wire the cables through the proper fittings for the light. Then, you need to put a hole in the bottom of the lamp base so you can string the light base through and then place the light bulb on top. When you are finished, the pottery can sit on top of the base and then you can add a light shade to finish up the ...
How To: Glaze pots in Shino with Simon Leach
So after much hard labor and patience, you've finally thrown your first vase, fired it carefully in the kiln, and let it harden to a fine finish. What to do next in your pottery making journey? While a beautiful vase is a beautiful vase no matter the finish or color, applying a glaze is like putting on makeup: sure, you don't NEED it, but having it on dramatically improves and accentuates your features, making cheekbones more sculpted, eyes wider and brighter, and lips more well defined. In t...
How To: Throw a chip and dip pottery plate
Ingelton Pottery demonstrates how to throw a chip and dip pottery plate. First, well a ball of clay and put it on a pottery wheel. Use your hands and ample amounts of water to depress the sides of the clay forming an indented rim with a raised center. Use your thumb to define the center hub. Create a thin side to the plate. Wet your hands and press down on the center hub, creating a depression. The plate should now have a two bowls with one sitting inside of the other one. Use a blade to scra...
How To: Make a desk organizer out of clay
This video illustrate us how to make a desk organizer out of clay. Here are the following steps:Step 1: First of all take clay in different colors and now shape them round.Step 2: Now take one ball and press it into a flat sheet.step 3: Now take another ball and shape them in cylinders.Step 3: Now place these cylinders on the flat sheet keeping space between them.Step 4: Now take two balls and make small vessel out of these two balls .Step 5: Place these vessels between the cylinders, these v...
How To: Clean off ceramic pots before firing them
In this video, we learn how to clean off ceramic pots before firing them. First, take a knife to clean off any bits that need to be removed to make the pots completely smooth. After this, dip the top of the pot into glaze and let it dry on a flat surface. For the base, hold with your two fingers on the inside, then dip in the glaze and let dry. Once these are dry, take a knife and scrape the edges where excess glaze may be at. Then, scrape all around the edges and clean the back of the side w...
How To: Pack or convert a bisque kiln with Simon Leach
Are you a budding potter who's looking for a skilled tutor but can't afford taking pricey classes every week? Then watch this kiln conversion tutorial by master potter Simon Leach.
How To: Make a "hakeme" brush for slip decorating your pottery
In this video, Simon Leach steps away from his wheel for a few minutes to teach potters everywhere how to make a "hakeme" brush at home out of basic items. This brush can then be used to slip decorate your pottery and other ceramics.
How To: Throw a pot using two rubber ribs
Watch this instructional ceramics video to learn how to throw and shape with two ribs at the same time. Learn some basic tips of coning on a pottery wheel by squeezing slowly all the way up. It's another process in the wedging department that compresses the clay. Once you get the rhythm of the pottery wheel, give it a try and soon you'll be producing your own ceramics.
How To: Begin making lids for wheel thrown ceramics
Watch this helpful ceramics video to learn how to throw a few types of lids for wheel thrown pots. Our guide forms a gallery lid, using calipers to measure the inside distance of the rim of the pot. The calipers can then be used to adjust the width of the lid piece.
How To: Decorate raw clay pottery with white slip
In this video pottery-making tutorial, Simon uses a white slip made from half china clay and half stoneware clay. Slip is an alternative to glaze for finishing a potted project. Simon also demonstrates an easy project to make a paint brush holder that will keep tools in place while using them. Watch this video demonstration to pick up a few ways to decorate a raw clay pottery piece with white slip.
How To: Make a goblet stem
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to throw a goblet stem on a pottery wheel. This instructional video is not for beginners, but it does include very detailed explanations and instructions. This how-to video will have you throwing beautiful goblet stems in no time.
How To: Throw a bowl
Watch this three-part tutorial video to learn how to throw a bowl out of clay using your pottery wheel. This how-to video offers detailed instructions on throwing a bowl that will have you creating beautiful pottery in no time.
How To: Decorate bisque pottery with red iron oxide
This is a video tutorial of decorating bisque with red iron oxide. Red iron oxide can be layered, fired, watered-down, and used in many ways to add a finish to a piece of bisque pottery. Bisqueware absorbs the color easily, so the two materials work well together. Pick up some new ideas for how to decorate bisque pottery with red iron oxide by watching this video ceramic design tutorial.
How To: Throw a curvy bowl
Simon Leach shows us how to throw a curvy bowl, in this series. Part 1 of 2 - How to Throw a curvy bowl.
How To: Make pottery bowls
In this video series, our expert will demonstrate how to make pottery bowl forms. Throwing bowls on a pottery wheel is a wonderful and creative art form that produces useful household items. Let our expert show you how to wedge the clay for large and small pottery bowls, how to form the bowl, and how to trim a foot. This video art lesson is great for beginner potters who want to learn how to make beautiful pottery bowls on a potter's wheel.
News: These Tiny Pots & Vases Are Made Just Like Big Ones—By 'Throwing' on a Potter's Wheel
From a quick, passing glance at a photograph, you may not notice that Jon Almeda's impressive displays of ceramics mastery are actually the size of coins. It's well-documented how much tiny art is loved by WonderHowTo, but this petite pottery may take the cake as the most impressive display of craftsmanship.
News: Gorcelain, the Bloody Side of Porcelain
One normally thinks of porcelain as decor or dishware for ladies who lunch, but artist Jessica Harrison has injected a horror show twist into the traditional ceramic delicacy.
How To: Throw clay mortar and pestles on a pottery wheel
A mortar and pestle is a pair of tools that has been used since antiquity for grinding spices. This tutorial shows you how to turn some raw clay into a ceramic mortar and pestle on a pottery wheel. Make sure to glaze it using non-toxic glaze!
How To: Throw a small ceramic mixing bowl on a pottery wheel
A perfect idea for a gift this holiday season! Throw a mixing bowl or ceramic serving dish on a pottery wheel. Make sure you use a non toxic glaze, with no lead in it, if you're using it to store or serve food!
How To: Throw double bowls on a pottery wheel
Double bowls are bowls that are connected together, such as a container that can be used for dip and salsa. This tutorial shows you how you can throw two similar bowls and attach them to create your own ceramic double bowls.
How To: Make a fall scarecrow decoration out of Cloud Clay
Cloud Clay is a new kind of non-toxic clay that doesn't need to be fired - it air dries by itself. This tutorial shows you how you can use several different colors of Cloud Clay to make an autumn scarecrow.
How To: Throw a small ceramic kitchen bowl with Simon Leach
In this clip, we learn how to throw a small, 7.5 inch-wide ceramic kitchen bowl with a pouring lip using two pounds of clay. If you're interested in making this bowl yourself, or just want to learn more about ceramics, watch this video guide from Simon Leach.
How To: Do glaze trailing and pouring for pottery
Simon Leach teaches us how to glaze trailing and pouring for pottery. First, you will dip the entire pot into the glaze after you have poured it into the middle. Wind up your wrist as you are pouring it out so you cover all of the sides in it. Just dip it down a little bit so it goes over the edge of the tip to cover the mouth of it. To use a balloon wand, fill it with the glaze and then use this to glaze the pots. Simply drop the liquid onto the pot in straight lines as you are turning it wi...
How To: Decorate a ceramic lamp base
In this video we learn how to decorate a ceramic lamp base with Simon Leach. First, grab a small paint brush and then apply paint to it. Once you have this, start to paint your chosen design onto the pot. Painting a leaf or a plant will be the most appropriate for a large jar or lamp base. Use a brush that will move along the pot and create unique lines. Go all around the pot until your design is finished. Let this dry and then rinse your pot off when you are done. Let your personality shine ...
How To: Unload and repack bisque pottery from a kiln
In this video, we learn how to unload and repack bisque pottery from a kiln. First, take the top off and then take out the smaller pots from the larger ones and set aside. Then, remove the large ones and set aside as well. When you are re-loading this, you will place in the large ones first. Then, place the smaller pots in the large ones if they fit. Squeeze the small ones around where you can. Stacking some into each other is fine. Turn this on for around 30 minutes on low heat, then you can...
How To: Make models and ornaments with salt dough
In this tutorial, we learn how to make models and ornaments with salt dough. First, grab a baking sheet and place aluminum foil over it. Now, grab some gloss sealer, salt, food coloring, flour, ribbon, glitter, cookie cutters, and buttons. To make the dough, combine flour with water and salt. Mix this together until you get a dough shape, then roll out and cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Cut a small hole in the top of it, then bake until golden brown in the oven. Tie a string in the hole...
How To: Double dip or glaze ceramic
In this tutorial, Simon Leach teaches us how to double dip or glaze ceramic. This trick will save you a lot of time, just make sure you practice a lot. First, mix your glaze up in a large bucket and grab your pot that you want to glaze. Now, place your piece into the glaze and then flick the wrist to lift the piece up quickly. Don't let the glaze go over the base of the piece or it will become too messy. Now, dip the piece back in, getting some glaze on the inside and swishing the liquid arou...
How To: Transfer printer toner to your ceramic work
Printer toner has enough iron oxide in it to allow ceramic artists to transfer the images onto unfired clay. Then, when you fire the clay, the image will be transfered onto the piece, without having to deal with extra painting or glazing.
How To: Turn a lump of clay into a ceramic pot on a potter's wheel
Starting with just a lump of clay and some water on a potting wheel, you can end up with a lovely clay pot! This video shows you how to make a trivet, so you can safely rest hot dishes on your table or countertop.
How To: Make a personal seal or signet out of smooth clay
Create your own personal seal from a piece of clay! This tutorial shows you the process, starting with a large piece of smooth clay, to cut your chosen sigil into the clay. Make sure you draw the sigil on in reverse. Now all you need is a letter and some sealing wax!
How To: Make simple pot stands
In this tutorial, we learn how to make simple pot stands. Start with your clay on the table and use water and your hands to start to shape it. Press down on the ball until it forms into a low bowl shape. Then, start to add more clay and water to the sides of the pot so that it's thicker on the edges. After this, place the pot stand onto a ceramic drying area, then you will be able to glaze it and fire it. Clean off your spinning table after you are finished, then enjoy your pot and pot stand!
How To: Make a teapot in ceramics
Simon Leach teaches us how to make a teapot in ceramics in this video. After you have created the basic pot for the tea, you will need to poke several small holes into the side of it where it will be poured. After this, you will need to create the spout and mark where it's going to go on the pot while it's still wet. Now, key the area on the pot where the spout is going to go, then apply water to it and push the spout onto the area. Push along the sides gently until the spout is stuck on comp...
How To: Make lidded boxes
In this tutorial, Simon Leach teaches us how to make lidded boxes. First, grab your pot and dip the top of it into water to get it wet and soft. Now, grab a small amount of clay and set it on your spinning table. After this, get your hands wet and start to craft a lid out of the clay. Make an inner base as you are spinning the clay by carefully placing your finger on the side of the top. When finished spinning, place the top down and see if it's the correct size for the pot, then glaze and fi...
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