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How To: Prepare clay for wheel throwing
Georgia Tech resident pottery instructor, Trip, describes how to knead clay and get it ready for use on the wheel. First you need a piece of soft scrap or fresh clay. When kneading, or wedging the clay, try to force out all of the air bubbles. The kneading board should help to absorb excess moisture. Test the kneaded clay by slicing it with a wire cutter to check for air bubbles.
How To: Throw quick ceramic plates
Watch this instructional ceramics video to learn how to throw a quick plate. Simply center your clay and create a wide disc before beginning the hole. Pull the lip of the plate out with a sponge. It is important to compress the rim. The most difficult step is to pay attention to the of the lip to widen the edge into a plate without breaking the clay or making it look like a bowl.
How To: Make an oval pie dish with Simon Leach
Watch this instructional ceramics video to learn how to make an oval pie dish with expert Simon Leach. Begin by throwing a clay pot with a wide base, as if throwing a plate. Then stop the wheel and lift the walls of the wet clay to bring the walls in, and seal the seems. The pot then has to stiffen before one can finish sealing and trimming of the excess clay from the round base.
How To: Trim a tiered bowl with Simon Leach
Watch this instructional ceramics video to learn how to trim a large tiered bowl with Simon Leach. With a thin bowl, one needs to be careful when balancing the upside-down bowl on the bat. Leach trims each individual tier with a large trimming tool. The large and possibly wobbly ceramic bowl can become once again even and graceful with some adventurous trimming. As we can see from the trimming process, when throwing a tiered bowl, it helps to leave some extra bulk.
How To: Throw a tiered bowl with Simon Leach
This instructional ceramics video will show you how to throw a large tiered bowl with expert, Simon Leach. Leach provides some of the delicate visuals needed to throw a large clay bowl. It is important to keep the clay evenly moist as you add the tiers. You may have to go back later to attempt to even out the balance of your tiered ceramic pot.
How To: Throw a wide bowl with Simon Leach
Watch this instructional ceramics video to learn how to throw a wide bowl with Simon Leach. As a preliminary step, one should throw a flat piece of clay onto the pad to assure easy lifting off of the bat. Centering is quite difficult with a larger piece of clay. Leach's visual guide allows one to view the delicate steps required to throw a wide ceramic bowl without letting it collapse.
How To: Trim a round bowl with Simon Leach
This instructional ceramics video shows you how to trim a round bowl. It is much easier of you have a centered pot to begin with. It is also helpful to leave a bit of extra clay in the base so that one can trim more freely. Once the clay is semi-dry, you can begin trimming. After trimming, smooth the trimming marks out using a rubber rib. A touch of water on the rim will re-elevate the rim after trimming your round pot.
How To: Trim Hakeme tea bowls with Simon Leach
Watch this instructional video with ceramics expert Simon Leach to learn how to trim and glaze Hakeme tea bowls. Leach uses a groggy, toothy clay which contains high iron content. He then adds a white clay slip with Hakeme grass brushes, which provides a thin layer of natural white clay texture, using a scratching technique. The white slip should be applied when the clay is still quite soft. The striking effect of Hakeme ceramics becomes more apparent as the clay dries.
How To: Dip tea bowls in glaze with Simon Leach
Watch skilled potter, Simon Leach, give his expert instructions on how to glaze a set of tea bowls. He also suggests some household supplies which can be used to embellish your ceramics when the clay is still soft, such as a bolt or a comb. This glaze is a combination of Scotland Hills red mud, feldspar and wood ash. He also uses white clay slip on some of the pots. This is a process wear one glazes the tea bowls while the clay is still semi-soft.
How To: Throw a tea bowl on a pottery wheel
This video pottery tutorial shows how to throw a tea bowl, or handle-less mug, on a pottery wheel. Demonstrating potter Simon Leach shows the step by step process of this free form potted project. Watch this instructional video and learn how to throw a tea bowl.
How To: Throw and facet a clay bowl on a pottery wheel
This video pottery tutorial shows how to throw and facet a clay bowl on a pottery wheel. Demonstrating potter, Simon Leach, shows the entire process for making a low bowl, beginning with kneading the clay on the wheel, to sculpting the bowl by hand, and ending with faceting the edges with a cheese knife. Watch this instructional video and learn how to throw and facet a clay bowl on a pottery wheel.
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: Square a ceramic clay pot before firing
Use a piece of wood to act as a bat to square off shapes when soft leather hard, evening them up more as the clay hardens. This ensures a smooth and professional finish on a clay pottery project. Watch this video pottery-making tutorial and learn how to square a clay pot before firing.
How To: Attach a handle onto a ramikin bowl
This video pottery-making tutorial shows how to attach a handle onto a ramikin bowl. As the handle and the ramikin need to be thrown on a pottery wheel separately, the two part need to be molded together. There is a bit of a trick to it so that the handle and pot join properly. Watch this instructional video and learn how to attach a handle onto a ramikin bowl
How To: Throw a large clay vase on a pottery wheel
This video pottery-making tutorial demonstrates the entire process of a large clay vase. Watch as this ceramic clay vase takes shape from the interplay between the skilled and nimble fingers of the craftsmen, the lump of clay, and the potter's wheel. The finished product is truly a work of art. Start watching and throw your own beautiful clay vase.
How To: Recuperate clay to soften it
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to soften clay by recuperating it. This helpful how-to video teaches several techniques to recuperate and soften your clay that are easy enough for beginners. You'll never be stuck again when your clay gets too hard after you watch this instructional video and learn how to recuperate and soften it.
How To: Decorate and band mugs
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to decorate your mugs and other pottery by using the technique of banding. The detailed instructions in this how-to video will be helpful to potters of any skill level. Decorating your mugs using banding will be easy once you've watched this instructional video.
How To: Pull handles for pitchers
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to pull handles for your pitchers. The tips in this how-to videos are helpful for potters of any level. You'll be pulling beautiful handles for your pitchers after watching this helpful instructional video.
How To: Make a large pitcher
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to make a large pitcher or jug out of clay using a pottery wheel. This how-to video contains detailed instructions that are best for intermediate potters. This instructional video will help you make large pitchers and jugs yourself in no time.
How To: Make a butter dish
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to make your own butter dish. If you don't use butter, you can follow the same process to make a slightly bigger dish for cheese. This project is easy enough for beginners. The tips in this helpful how-to video will have you making your own butter dish in no time.
How To: Throw a squashed vase
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to throw a squashed vase using clay and a pottery wheel. This how-to video offers detailed instructions that are not geared for beginners--a decent amount of experience is needed for this project. Intermediate potters will be throwing squashed vases in no time thanks to this instructional video.
How To: Raku fire
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to use the technique of raku firing. This process requires caution due to high temperatures. This instructional video is full of helpful tips for how to raku fire, but it is not for beginners.
How To: Make a seal
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to make a seal out of a lump of clay. This project is easy enough for beginners, and the tips in this helpfuly how-to video will allow potters of any level to easily make clay seals.
How To: Use radial fluting to decorate pottery
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to use radial fluting to decorate your pottery. This technique is simple enough for beginners and adds a lot to your pottery. The tips in this helpful how-to video will allow you to decorate your pottery beautifully with radial fluting.
How To: Add the mouthpiece to a salt pig
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to add the mouthpiece to a salt pig and finish it off. This how-to video requires a certain degree of experience, specifically the ability to make the body of the salt pig, so it's not for beginners. The instructions in this helpful video will have you finishing your salt pigs in style in no time.
How To: Trim bowls
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to trim your bowls using the pottery wheel and some trimming tools. The instructions in this how-to video are very detailed and best for beginner to intermediate potters with some experience. These tips will help you improve your bowls by trimming them nicely.
How To: Trim using chuck
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to trim your pottery using chuck. This technique and the tips on how to do it are best for intermediate potters with some experience. This instructional video will have you trimming you pottery using a chuck in no time.
How To: Trim raku pieces
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to trim your raku pieces. This how-to video is best for potters with some experience with the pottery wheel. The tips in this instructional video will help you easily trim your raku pieces.
How To: Throw a rounded jewelry box
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to throw a rounded jewelry box using clay and your pottery wheel. This how-to video is geared toward intermediate potters with some experience in the wheel. The tips in this instructional video will help you throw a great rounded jewelry box.
How To: Throw a jewelry box
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to throw a jewelry box using clay and a pottery wheel. This how-to video is best for beginner to intermediate potters with some experience with the pottery wheel. The tips in this instructional video will help you throw your own jewelry box.
How To: Throw off the hump
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to make a drinking vessel for raku firing by throwing off the hump. This helpful how-to video contains detailed instructions best for intermediate potters who have never used the technique of throwing off the hump before.
How To: Throw a curvy bowl for raku
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to throw a curvy bowl for raku firing using clay and your pottery wheel. This helpful how-to video is best for intermediate potters with some experience using the wheel. This instructional video will allow you to quickly and easily throw a curvy bowl for raku.
How To: Throw better cylinders
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to use some different forms to help yourself throw better cylinders. This how-to video contains very detailed instructions that are best for experienced potters who need help throwing better cylinders.
How To: Throw a raku pot with lugs
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to throw a raku pot with lugs using clay and your pottery wheel. This helpful how-to video contains detailed instructions that are best for beginning to intermediate potters. This instructional video will have you throwing raku pots with lugs in no time.
How To: Throw a rounded raku bowl
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to throw a rounded raku bowl using clay and a pottery wheel. This helpful how-to video contains detailed instructions good for intermediate potters who have a little experience with the pottery wheel. This instructional video will have you throwing rounded raku bowls in no time.
How To: Throw a bread crock
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to throw a breadcrock using clay and a pottery wheel. This how-to video is best for intermediate potters. The instructions in this video will have you throwing your own bread crock in no time.
How To: Throw a beer tankard
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to throw a beer tankard using clay and your pottery wheel. This helpful how-to video contains detailed instructions that are good for beginner to intermediate potters who have used a wheel before but have never thrown a beer tankard.
How To: Glaze pottery inside and outside
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to use some more advanced glazing techniques to make the inside different than the outside. The detailed instructions in this helpful how-to video are best for intermediate to advanced potters who want to glaze both the inside and the outside of their pottery.
How To: Trim pieces with small necks with a chuck
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to use a chuck to trim your small-necked pottery. The detailed instructions in this helpful how-to video are best for intermediate potters with some experience.
How To: Throw a large vessel
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to throw a large vessel on your pottery wheel. The detailed instructions in this helpful how-to video are best for intermediate potters who have some experience but have never made larger vessels.