Pottery Making Illustrated Articles (Simple)

Illustrations of test tiles.

There is no perfect formula for composing a great piece, but I have developed some reliable techniques to help with this important piece of the equation. With practice, you will begin to develop your own methods for composing the sur­faces of your work.

My cocktail cup was designed to feel ceremonial. The cocktail-cup design is true to the themes of repetition found throughout my work, but it allows me to explore a more indulgent form.

I find joy in making a clay form and then patterning the surface with glass beads. The process is meditative as well.

This life experience has influenced my current ceramics practice. I integrate the vibrancy of majolica ceramics in my work, making use of its wonderful qualities of translucent color integrated into the surface of the glaze.

The wheel has since become an indelible tool in my practice, even after meticulous handbuilding techniques crept into my process. It begins with centering, not only the clay but also my mind, and for that I turn to nature.

Leaving pots behind for a time created room for intellectual and emotional development. When I returned to the vessel, my visual vocabulary had grown; I was a different person.

I soak several small bathroom or kitchen towels in water, then wring them fairly dry. One is folded in half and laid on the table.

Years ago it never occurred to me that those persistent cracks pestering my porcelain could actually be a good thing.

The majolica watercolor technique is very similar to painting a watercolor on paper.

The plate is one of my favorite forms. It’s the stalwart workhorse of the kitchen and a key player on the daily tablescape.

So, I find myself evolving and trying to loosen up my less-is-more lifestyle mantra. After all, there has always been power in numbers. However, there’s a difference between mere clutter and objects that make up a pattern.

Drawings adapted from woodturningcad.co.uk.

I decided to make an appetizer tray and after a few tries, I came up with this paddle-shaped cheeseboard. The tray is very simple, but there are a few tricks that will help you as you experiment with your own forms.

Salt and pepper shakers are found in almost everyone’s kitchen. Along with the utilitarian function, an interesting salt and pepper set can also serve as a focal point on a table.

David Scott Smith has done hundreds of glaze tests in his converted wood kiln. Below he has shared several of the successful recipes and images of the tests with us.

Low-temperature wood firing in a broken, old electric kiln began as a project to help my students, but I have found the results so exciting that it has become a focus of my professional practice.

My work is exclusively handbuilt using slabs, sprig molds, and pinching techniques. Many of my forms, including the chocolate pot (a porcelain or metal container designed to serve hot chocolate), are inspired by French Limoges pottery.

To create a physical connection from the vessel to the place that inspired it, I incorporate found materials such as sand and clay into the sculpted rims. Experimentation through exploration is where life happens.

When I make cake stands, I like to work in multiples to encourage experimentation and risk taking. The added benefit: I have several combinations of tops and bases from which to choose.