Pottery Making Illustrated Articles (Simple)

Imagery plays a very important part in all these applications. So it was there that my journey with low-fire clays and the use of molds began.

There are advantages to having a separate credit card solely for business purposes. Business credit cards enable you to make big buys like studio furniture, equipment, or raw materials.

A wine bucket needs to hold one bottle of wine and enough ice for chilling.

In an effort to produce a functional ceramic object that’s more earth friendly, I started combining vintage recycled kitchen tools with “candy-coated” earthenware handles.

Vintage textile prints and cast glassware are my primary inspirations. After failing to throw pots similar to the ones that inspired me, I began collecting glassware, melamine, and plastic in various shapes to make molds from.

So, as you read this issue, think back on what you did during the in-between time. You may be inspired to create new forms in a whole different way.

Excerpted from Functional Pottery: Forms and Aesthetic in Pots of Purpose by Robin Hopper.

I have a number of clay friends who have chickens, which made me consider the egg itself when designing my egg cups.

After studying photos of amphorae found at Pompeii, Italy, that were left intact by burial in volcanic ash when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 CE, I secured some terra-cotta clay and began to make some vessels.

I have always been drawn to organic shapes and textures. I find that my Tree Bark Bowls meet some inner desire to have a balance between texture, color, and shape.

Daniel had been the kid who was throwing better than the old guys, who quit every afternoon with two hundred dollars in his pocket, but now, he says, “All of a sudden I couldn’t throw anything.

Upon further reflection, I decided that one goal of my work was to pass on the feeling of the clay, the touch, the experiential properties of working in the studio.

The bowls I make are thrown on the wheel, faceted, and then textured using found objects such as shells and stones. Designing each piece is a playful process, as I create compositions with facets, textures, and converging surfaces.

I love flowers (who doesn’t?) and am always trying to find more ways to bring nature indoors. I’ve also long enjoyed small, precious things. The micro vase satisfies both desires.

Wanting to try these techniques on my own, I went back to my studio and perfected my type of scoop.

Dividing the exterior surface of a pot into individual planes imposes an architectural structure to it—an exciting element of formal drama, simplicity, and elegance.

Loose-leaf teas keep intact all of the essential oils that make teas flavorful and aromatic.

Slips and engobes are related to one another and sometimes the terms are used synonymously.

Some of the potters featured in this issue have engaged in master-apprentice relationships at some point in their careers—from informal to formal—and found them to be very rewarding.

One of the best ways to improve your ceramic building skills and develop a discerning eye is to copy the masters. Try your hand at any of the pots.