Pottery Making Illustrated Articles (Simple)

I typically think of a memory, something that brings me comfort, joy, or makes me laugh, and illustrate it using animal characters.

In the development of my hanging planters, I played with the idea of giving function to a hanging sculptural object.

Coffee pour-overs were up and coming at that time in the clay community, and while I had never created one before, the challenge of developing new designs, making prototypes, and receiving feedback is one of my favorite aspects of being a maker.

This is a form you can easily adjust the amount of clay you start with to make a container that might only hold two heads of garlic to one that may hold multiple heads of garlic and several shallots.

I have combined the use of both slab building and wheel throwing to make creating plates more efficient and precise.

My altered pots stem from a combination of found-object wood blocks and freehand stretching of the overall form. This pairing gives me spontaneously soft-looking pots.

Diversifying income streams is crucial for making a life as an artist. This means exploring various avenues beyond just selling artwork directly.

I’m inspired by fearless makers, artists who are fiercely independent and confident in their direction. I’m drawn most to artisanal vessels that not only hold a space, but also define that space.

Chattering is a fun and interesting way to elevate a form by adding visual movement and texture.

Approximate fired-ceramic dimensions (in inches) and wet-clay amounts (in pounds) for functional wheel-thrown forms.

This issue focuses on all things wheel throwing. While we share several great projects that you can follow step by step, consider combining techniques.

Original drawings by Lucy Kitto from The Japanese Pottery Handbook, ©1979, 2014 by Penny Simpson, Kanji Sodeoka, and Lucy Kitto.

My work brings together this deep love for the sea and a sense of whimsy into a piece of artwork for your hands.

Once you have decided on the shape of your pot, and the diameter and style of the lid, and you’ve placed the spout appropriately, you need to figure out what kind of handle to use.

The salt-and-pepper shakers on a tray are a great reflection of our collaborative process, combining Grace’s magical sense as an illustrator and Dennis’ slab-building prowess while sourcing imagery from many of our shared interests.

My own work is influenced by Folk Art. The Tree of Life candlesticks I have made over the past few years were inspired by original designs and techniques produced in Mexico.

Sewing patterns and steel-panel construction research spearheaded the development of my understanding of building shapes with flattened templates.

My pinch pots have a sense of accordion-like compression, enhanced by handle placement and my use of terra sigillata.