Pottery Making Illustrated Articles (Simple)

I am famous (or maybe notorious is more appropriate) for working on an idea in my sketchbook for so long that at some point, in my head, I feel like I have already made the piece, and I move on to ano

One of the most important steps in trimming and finishing a pot is to study the curve or line of its interior thrown form and mimic that shape on the exterior as you remove clay.

No more morning tennis, no more afternoon latte pick-me-ups, and less opportunities to peddle my ceramic work. Shelter-in-place requirements and limited gatherings have certainly altered my habitual r

Ceramic jewelry involves two components, a ceramic piece and a metal finding. Start by creating the ceramic element for the piece of jewelry you wish to make. A good beginning piece for anyone new to

I’ve always loved the butter dish form, perhaps because of what’s hidden inside it. Throughout the years, I have occasionally tried to make butter dishes, but there was always something wrong with the

As an ancient form of devotion and communication, they carry many meanings. While they are individually ephemeral, as a tradition they have endured for thousands of years. The following morning, the r

As a fine arts major, I took a wide range of studio and art history classes, but never took a ceramics class. Later, as a graduate student in art education, I took a two-day workshop with Mary Carolyn

My creative process proceeds not from form to decoration, but in reverse. I start with the development of a graphic surface pattern, which I create and refine on my computer using Adobe Illustrator.

This technique involves using templates to repeatedly create an even, symmetrical form. In the coil-building exercise, you position the template next to the pot as coils are added, making certain the

I have never felt good about having my clay space in the basement of our home. No matter how much time I spend cleaning up, I am still concerned about clay and chemical dust migrating to the rest of t

One of the most important decisions a ceramic artist makes concerns their choice of clay body. Commercial clays sold by pottery suppliers are both convenient and reliable.

Thinking about insurance requires us to think about pessimistic outcomes, so it’s natural to want to avoid the topic. However, for the legal foundation of your business, insurance is critical.

When I first discovered ceramics, I quickly became captivated with the process. I loved everything from forming and decorating to the material science and firing. I was even seduced by the parameters

Working with multiple forms, either of the same shape or slight variations of the same shape, offers a playful improvisational conversation. Having many instead of few helps remove the preciousness th

Mug Shapes and Handles Illustrated by Robin Ouellette

The collective details of a space can create lasting impressions that evoke memories from a specific time or place in someone’s life. The inventiveness of integrating form and surface in my work is of

About 10 years ago, in graduate school at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), I developed a keen interest in handmade Modernism. To me, this is a concept where decoration or ornamentatio

I moved to Louisiana in 2002 to attend graduate school at Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge. Louisiana is a crazy, wild place, and provided thousands of memorable experiences that helped

When looking at intriguing pots, we are often caught wondering, how is this made? It is delightful to witness the cleverness and ingenuity of the potter. I have that same feeling of wonder when lookin

Nothing goes together quite like red earthenware clay and underglazes. The richness of the color of the clay paired with the infinite colors of underglaze are the basis for beautiful pieces with endle