Everything Else
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: Soak and slake down dried clay with Simon Leach
When your clay is too tough and not malleable beneath your fingertips, you've got trouble. Pottery, after all, requires smoothe and flexible clay that can be molded into any shape you desire.
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!
How To: Make ceramic handles for hanging wall vases
Simon Leach is in the house, or rather on his deck, teaching us how to fashion and then attach handles to ceramic hanging wall vases he threw previously. If you make pottery, and want to attach your ceramic works to your wall, this video will show you how to do it.
How To: Decorate ceramic wall vases and dry clay
Simon Leach's series of high-quality pottery videos marches on. In this installment he teaches us how to dry some high-quality clay that he has just acquired from a cement works, and also how to decorate some hanging clay wall pots he made in a previous installment.
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 clay corner wall vase with Simon Leach
Making a round clay vase on a wheel that will hang properly in a corner may sound like a challenge, but with Simon Leach to teach you, even an amateur at-home potter should be able to complete this ceramics project. If you want to avoid griping like he does throughout this video, make sure not to use a plastic bat!
How To: Apply a terra cotta slip to a pot
A terra cotta slip can add flair and durability to any pot that you've made at home, and also allow you to make up for inconsistencies in the composition of your clay. This video from Simon Leach shows you how to apply just such a terra cotta slip to a clay pot, an important technique to improve you pottery and ceramics skills.
How To: Throw a false bottom on a ceramic flower pot
If you are a homemade ceramics enthustiast, chances are at some point you've thrown a pot where the bottom has come out too thin. This video from Simon Leach teaches you how to throw a false bottom for just such a pot so that the precious time you've invested into th piece of pottery doesn't go to waste.
How To: Pack an electric kiln with pottery
Any prolific potter will know that fitting all of you creations into your electric kiln can be like putting a jigsaw puzzle together, except the pieces are pieces of your heart. This handy video from Simon Leach offers advice on techniques for and a demonstration of packing your kiln properly to avoid damaging any of your precious pots while still firing them successfully.
How To: Make a plaster bat for drying out your wet clay
Simon Leach is an online pottery instruction legend, and in this three-part video, he instructs us in a procedure somewhat outside his normal area of expertise by creating a homemade plaster bat, which is basically a flat plaster block used for drying wet clay. For the hardcore at-home ceramics whiz this could be a very fun and rewarding project. Just make sure you are comfortable working with both plaster and clay!
How To: Trim a ceramic pot on a wheel
English pottery instructor Simon Leach has stepped out onto his lovely deck to teach us how to trim our ceramic pots on the wheel. His example piece is small cup or pot that begins the video as plain as vanilla and ends it as a wonderfully detailed piece after only 10 minutes or so of work.
How To: Throw a lamp base
You all the know the scene from Ghost? Where Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore are sitting and they are trying to make something using the machine? It's one of the most iconic scenes out there. Anyways, this video isn't about ghosts, or either of those actors, but rather that machine and what it can do. This tutorial will show you how to throw a lamp base easily. Enjoy!
How To: Make a polymer clay dog bead
If you are making a funky homemade charm bracelet or necklace, have a look at this tutorial. In it, you will learn how to make a polymer clay bead shaped like a cartoon dog. This is a great bead to use for a gift for the dog lover in your life. It won't take long to make this cute little guy and whomever you make it for will really appreciate it. This little bead has tons of personality. So, why not grab some clay and get molding.. this puppy can't wait to meet you!
How To: Make coils with clay
In this how to video, you will how to create clay coils. You will need clay about the size of your fist, water, and a knife. Pound the clay 200 times to get all the air out. Cut a slice from the clay and roll it in your hands. It should be a log shape. Now place it on a surface. Roll it back and forth until it is to the thickness you want. Water the clay coils and score the ends of it. Push the ends together and rub all the cracks out with water so that it sticks. Wet the sides of the two coi...
How To: Make a polymer clay rose
Here is another great video that is perfect for teacher's or parents looking for a way to keep their kids entertained. In this video the main ingredient that is really needed is polymer clay. It's fun to play with and easy to use. Find out how to use it in order to make a cool polymer clay rose. Enjoy!
How To: Make a polymer clay spider
This cool tutorial is perfect for teachers or parents interested in keeping their little ones entertained. You'll be finding out how to make a polymer clay spider with ease. These spiders are cute and sure won't scare anybody since they're fake and too big to be real spiders. Enjoy!
How To: Make miniture roses for craft projects
In this video hosted by Paper Cat Designs, learn how to make adorable miniature paper roses to add to your spring arts & crafts projects. Apply these little paper roses to your scrapbooks, mini albums, favor boxes, journal pages, or even as wine glass charms to add a small touch of beauty! Get creative this spring with help from this video demonstraton.
How To: Pierce carve a clay pottery bowl
Ingleton Pottery demonstrates how to pierce carve a clay pottery bowl. First, form your bowl on a potter's wheel. Then take a blade to the undried clay bowl and score your design into the bowl using the piercing technique. Gently press out the design so that the clay is removed from the negative space created by the scoring marks. Continue making the design around the bowl. You can make intricate designs around the bowl using the piercing and scoring technique. Be careful not to damage the bo...
How To: Throw a giant clay pottery novelty goblet
IngletonPottery demonstrates how to create a giant clay pottery novelty goblet in less than eight minutes in this video. The goblet can be used as a decorative piece or it can be used to drink from. The choices are endless for this giant piece of art. The giant goblet begins as a big blob of clay. A portion of the clay is wet and the spinning table begins. While the clay is wet it is placed on the spinning table and then the molding process begins. To mold the clay requires concentration and ...
How To: Throw a wavy edged pottery bowl
This video illustrates the method of throwing a wavy edged pottery bowl. This process comprises of the following stepsStep 1This process needs clay, pottery wheel and water in a bowl.Step 2Place the clay on the moving wheel.Step 3Now give the clay a desired shape with the help of your hands.Step 4keep wetting your hands at desired intervals and insert your fingers inside the clay so that it gives you the shape of a bowl.Step 5When your desired shape and size is ready take the clay bowl out of...