Pottery Making Illustrated Articles (Simple)

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

While there’s a wide range of underglaze colors available, achieving the specific color and surface you want can still be elusive. What if you want a little more color saturation from your underglaze

A liquid clay body, also known as casting slip, cannot be made by simply adding an excessive amount of water to dry or wet clay. A dry mudflat is an excellent example of why adding additional water wi

Ceramics is being included by some contemporary jewelers as part of a large and varied palette of different non-precious materials. Additionally, many ceramic artists are discovering that the making t

The wholesaler makes money when retailers buy their goods or products directly. Growing wholesale sales may seem easy: All you need to do is sell more products to consumers and businesses and revenue

I have a confession. I occasionally find myself struggling with the idea of making more objects for a world that already has too many. I wonder what I could possibly create that the world would need.

Greek Geometric Banding Patterns Illustrated by Robin Ouellette

Probably by now every potter in the world is familiar with Chinese rice-paper transfers. They come in various colors, and there are many beautiful designs available, from flowers to insects to abstrac

Center 4 pounds of clay on the wheel and open the interior quite wide, to about 4–5 inches in diameter (1, 2). Begin pulling straight up until the cylinder is almost twice as tall as you want the fini

Saggar firing is the method of creating confined atmospheres in a kiln within a container or saggar. Depending on the type of firing, the saggar can be made out of anything from the traditional refrac

My current work is inspired by the complex and gorgeous mandalas found in Eastern religions. Traditional mandala designs are circular and combine complex geometric shapes and patterns that radiate out

Ecology, landscape, and our evolving relationship with the natural world have always been themes I’ve explored in my work. With my illustrated wall plates, I try to capture the beauty and energy of th

She encouraged our family to touch and use the pieces she collected. She influenced me visually and artistically by teaching me to use patterns and grids in needlepoint, quilting, crocheting, and knit

High-fire terra sigillata? Is this even possible? Yes! Terra sigillatas remain stable from low fire through mid range to high fire. Because I fire in both low-fire electric and high-fire wood kilns, I

I’m currently using a combination of mishima, paper stencils, and sgraffito on my work. I’m inspired by human interaction with the natural world, and my origami crane design specifically relates to ar

I love piercing pots. I was first inspired by windows that looked dramatically different from the inside versus the outside. I wondered what the effect would be of making windows on a ceramic object.

Plaster transfer is a unique method of applying an image with fine detail onto a clay slab or tile with underglazes. Plaster transfers can be done by screen printing or painting an image (monoprinting

This year has tested us in so many ways; emotionally, financially, and morally. It has tested our trust in the cornerstones of society, while simultaneously reinforcing our dependence on community.

Excerpted and adapted from Deb Schwartzkopf’s new book Creative Pottery: Innovative Techniques & Experimental Designs in Thrown and Handbuilt Ceramics.