Hot Ceramics & Pottery How-Tos
How To: Use a potato peeler as a fluting tool
In this video, we learn how to use a potato peeler as a fluting tool. First, take your wet pot and then grab the potato peeler. Use broad strokes along the side of the pot and press down hard and you peel the clay off of the sides. You will need to go over the same spot a few times to be able to see, but once you go around the entire pot you will see the different shapes in the marks. Once you are finished going all the way around the pot, your hands will be tired but it will be fluted with t...
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: Use wood ash to prep pots for the kiln
In this video, we learn how to use wood ash to prep pots for the kiln. First, grab wood ash and place it into a container that sprays. After this, blow in the appropriate hole and hold the container so the ash gets all over your pots. Continue to do this all the way around the pots. You will get out of breath while doing this, so take your take and take breaks to breathe. Make sure you do this in a quick amount of time so the ash inside the container stays ready to be blown. After this, the p...
How To: Pack a kiln
In this video, we learn how to pack a kiln. First, you will place all the largest pots on the top and towards the back of the kiln. If you have a third row, place the most large ones on the bottom, packed next to each other. After this, pack the smallest ones to the front of the kiln until you have no more room or all the pieces are packed in. Give the kiln a warm up during the night, then you will be ready to fire it to create your pieces. Once finished, remove the pieces and you are done!
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: Do raw Shino glazing on tea bowls with Simon Leach
Think you're done with your ceramics project because you've thrown your vase and fired it in a kiln? Think again. While you've done great so far, firing a pot is only half the battle. In order to make a piece of pottery truly spectacular and professional looking, it's vital to add a coat or two of glaze.
How To: Glaze assorted pottery forms with Shino glaze with Simon Leach
We're not going to lie to you: Creating pottery is a long, arduous, and intense process. But After you throw your charger, come back to reshape offset parts, fire the charger, and then glaze it, you have yourself a homemade work of art you will treasure for a lifetime. In other words, all the hard work you put into pottery is worth it!
How To: Trim a pot
In this video, we learn how to trim a pot. First, you will want to get your pot wet and place it onto a ceramic bowl shaper. Start to spin the bowl and get it wet as you use a sharp tool to remove the trim from around the pot. Continue to do this until all of the trim you want to remove is gone. When finished, you will need to refire this and place glaze back onto it. This can be done with any type of ceramic pot, just make sure you keep it moist while you are cutting it, so it doesn't break ...
How To: Paddle clay
In this video, we learn how to paddle clay. Start off by placing the clay on the wheel and turning it on so it's moving quickly. You wan tot make sure you are using a lot of water and keeping the clay moist, as well as your hand. Make sure the bottom is even around on all sides, or it will turn out off center. Place your hands around the clay and cradle it until it makes a round and even shape. Continue to do this until you can put your hands on the side of the pot and work your clay on the i...
How To: Make a ceramic slab plate
In this video, we learn how to make a ceramic slab plate. First, roll out the ceramic. After this, place the clay on butcher or newspaper and smooth it out with a plastic card. Repeat this on the other side. Next, use a paper template to help cut your design or use a circular object. Cut slits to help remove the surrounding clay. Use the excess clay to build support pieces then curve the edges of the plate up and place the support pieces underneath. Use a piece of leather to smooth the edges....
How To: Trim a slapped and impressed tea bowl with Simon Leach
Even the best potters don't always get a perfectly finished vase, pot, or jar immediately after throwing. In fact, it's actually quite common for a potter to go back over his work and trim off or reshape the uneven parts to achieve a balanced finish. This is precisely what master potter Simon Leach does in this pottery video.
How To: Make criss cross textured tea bowls with Simon Leach
Master potter Simon Leach is so good at what he does because he follows his own advice: practice, practice, practice! In this tutorial by Simon Leach, you'll watch Leach as he throws and sculpts a very pretty textured tea bowl. Using his fingers to help mold the tall form, Leach skillfully applies a lower rim and then adds a criss cross pattern by slapping a textured mold onto the pot's side.
How To: Use the chattering surface technique to sculpt a tall form pot
There are lots of techniques you can use to throw a pot and to sculpt and mold it, but when you get a big order for a batch of pots, the best technique you can use is the technique that will produce the largest quantity in the least amount of time.
How To: Use the chattering technique on a flat form pottery piece
Are you looking to make your pottery projects more quickly and with less stress? Then this is the perfect tutorial for you. Lakeside Pottery shows you step by step how to flatten and shape a flat form pottery piece using a chattering technique.
How To: Become a full time potter with Simon Leach
According to a recent survey, many of us work to live rather than live to work. That may explain the lack of satisfaction that most workers report at their jobs. While little job satisfaction can be attributed to a number of causes (horrible boss, bad pay, bad hours, etc.), there is first and foremost the prime mover. Many people are stuck at a job they don't want, sadly.
How To: Throw an upside down double walled pottery vase
In this tutorial, we learn how to throw an upside down double walled pottery vase. Start off by using water every few seconds to craft your vase. Use your fingers to press down in the middle, to make the round shape and have the vase rise up into the air. Make this into a bowl shape, which will be into the air. Next, shape the middle using your hands into a triangle shape. Raise the side bowl around it, and keep using water to increase the size of the bowl. Collar the bowl in, then start to m...
How To: Make a Japanese Shino glaze with Simon Leach
A Shino glaze is an umbrella term for a category of pottery glazes that range in color from milky white to orange and even charcoal gray. Chino glazes add a very pretty luster to pottery pieces and are made using a carbon trap, or trapping carbon in the glaze during kiln firing.
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: Fire a kiln
In order to fire a kiln, you will need the following: you will need to have a damper. There will also need to be a means of checking the fire, looking in to see the flame. Each stage will have to be closely monitored. Let it fire until it reaches an adequate temperature. It will transition through phases of heat. As it reaches reduction, you'll need to monitor the rate of rise. This stage, the reduction phase, is a slow stage of rise. It will take many hours to reach reduction phase. It will ...
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: Take care of drying pitchers and pouring lips
Once you've mastered the difficult task of shaping and sculpting a clay pitcher into perfection, you must learn how to handle the pitcher once you leave it to dry. For the most part, the actual pouring lip must be kept damp as they dry.
How To: Glaze a lamp base with Simon Leach
In order to glaze a lamp base, you will need the following: glaze, warm water, a sponge, copper carbonate, paintbrush, and sticks.
How To: Make a seal for your ceramic projects with Simon Leach
If you've created the ceramic version of Michelangelo's "David" and want to preserve the work as well as let others know the pottery piece as the product of your own two hands, then watch this video by Simon Leach to learn how to create a ceramic seal.
How To: Advance in cermaics by practicing the basics
When it comes to ceramics and mastering throwing, master potter Simon Leach belives that "spaced repetition" is a great way of learning.
How To: Trim a charger with Simon Leach
So you've got your clay thrown on your kiln and you're molding and sculpting away with those busy fingers. The charger you envisioned making in your mind is finally taking shape...sort of. While the general flat plate shape is appearing, there's a noticeable lack of contours and it looks rather flat.
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: Improve clay throwing with five basic throwing tools
Sculpting a fine piece of pottery, whether it's a gorgeously curvy vase for your peonies or a wide, copious plate you'll use for parties, takes numerous hours of practice and fine tuning your method.
How To: Throw a large charger plate with Simon Leach
God knows we have enough mass produced plates and dinnerware sets out there, some high quality and others like the McDonald's version of plates - cheap costing and cheap looking.
How To: Make a miniature fortune cookie from polymer clay
Learn how to sculpt a miniature fortune cookie charm out of polymer clay with this free video art lesson. While this tutorial is best suited for those with some familiarity of polymer clay sculpture, novice sculpters should be able to follow along given a little effort. For specifics, including step-by-step instructions, and to get started crafting your own mini polymer clay fortune cookie charms, watch this sculpture tutorial.
How To: Make miniature gingerbread men from polymer clay
Learn how to sculpt a miniature gingerbread men out of polymer clay with this free video art lesson. While this tutorial is best suited for those with some familiarity of polymer clay sculpture, novice sculpters should be able to follow along given a little effort. For specifics, including step-by-step instructions, and to get started crafting your own mini polymer clay gingerbread man charms, watch this sculpture tutorial.
How To: Make portrait cameos out of polymer clay
Learn how to create portrait cameos out of polymer clay with this free video art lesson. While this tutorial is best suited for those with some familiarity of polymer clay sculpture, novice sculpters should be able to follow along given a little effort. For specifics, including step-by-step instructions, and to get started crafting your own polymer clay portrait cameos, watch this sculpture tutorial.
How To: Make miniature macaroons from polymer clay
See how to sculpt miniature macaroon charms out of polymer clay with this free video art lesson. While this tutorial is best suited for those with some familiarity of polymer clay sculpture, novice sculpters should be able to follow along given a little effort. For specifics, including step-by-step instructions, and to get started crafting your own doll-sized macaroons, watch this sculpture tutorial.
How To: Make a miniature polymer clay ladybug
Learn how to sculpt a miniature ladybug out of polymer clay with this free video art lesson. While this tutorial is best suited for those with some familiarity of polymer clay sculpture, novice sculpters should be able to follow along given a little effort. For specifics, including step-by-step instructions, and to get started making miniature polymer-clay ladybugs yourself, watch this sculpture tutorial.
How To: Make a polymer clay colored pencils & artist pallete
Learn how to sculpt colored pencils out of polymer clay with this free video art lesson. While this tutorial is best suited for those with some familiarity of polymer clay sculpture, novice sculpters should be able to follow along given a little effort. For specifics, including step-by-step instructions, and to get started making your own polymer-clar colored pencils, watch this sculpture tutorial.
How To: Make a polymer clay pig
Learn how to sculpt a pig out of polymer clay with this free video art lesson. While this tutorial is best suited for those with some familiarity of polymer clay sculpture, novice sculpters should be able to follow along given a little effort. For specifics, including step-by-step instructions, and to get started making your own polymer clay piggies, watch this sculpture tutorial.
How To: Throw a 7 pound flowerpot with Simon Leach
Simon Leach has taught us a lot about ceramics and pottery in his many videos. In this concise one he demonstrates for all you at-home potters out there how to make a 3 kilogram (6 pound 10 ounce) flowerpot on the wheel. As you can see at the end of the video, that is a pretty large pot. If you can throw this, you are well on your way to being an advanced ceramics enthusiast.
How To: Dig clay for flower pots and make red iron oxide slips
Simon Leach gets back to basic in this installment of his ceramics instruction video series. He teaches you first how to find places todig clay, then how to apply a red iron oxide slip to some flower pots he's working on. Multiple lessons in one video! This one is sure to teach you some interesting new pottery techinques.
How To: Knead clay for flower pots and then make them
Simon Leach, the worldwide leader in free bilingual ceramics instruction, spends this installment of his video series first kneading clay in preperation for potting, then throws said clay into some flower pots on his wheel. Pottery lessons at their finest.
How To: Sieve white slip to be used to adorn pots and vases
This Simon Leach video features him demonstrating to potters everywhere how to sieve a white slip that he will use later to adorn some clay vases that he has thrown previously. Slips can really make your pots distinctive, but be subtle! You don't want them to take attention away from the flower that the pots are for.
How To: Make white slips for wall vases and other pots
Adding slips to your vases gives them a subtle artistic flair without detracting from the beauty of the flowers within. Simon Leach is here to teach you how to add a white slip to your ceramics, using the wall vases that he has been working on as examples. You may not be able to do it so effortlessly, but as Simon always says, keep practicing!