A intriguing art form that has been practiced for thousands of years is pottery. Pottery may be both beautiful and useful, from exquisite sculpture to useful bowls and plates. Can you however teach yourself pottery? Yes, if you have some patience and practice.
Getting the appropriate supplies is the first step in teaching yourself how to make pottery. A pottery wheel, a kiln, clay, and other tools including a sponge, wire cutter, and rib are required. You may be able to locate a nearby pottery supply business, but there are numerous online retailers who sell pottery products as well.
Once you have your materials, you may begin learning the fundamentals. Learning to spin clay on a wheel is among the most crucial pottery techniques. The clay is shaped with your hands while being rotated on a wheel. To use a pottery wheel, place the clay in the center of the head of the wheel and shape it into a cone with your hands. Next, make a hole in the center of the cone with your fingers and thumbs. Start pulling the clay upward and forth while keeping it balanced on the wheel by wetting your hands. Shape and smear the clay as needed with your tools.
Trimming is a crucial pottery technique. Trimming involves taking off extra clay from a pot’s or bowl’s foot to make it level. With a wire cutter, detach the pot from the wheel head and flip it over to trim. Trim any extra clay from the pot’s bottom with a trimming tool, taking care not to go overboard.
To prepare clay for spinning on a wheel, wedge the clay first. To get rid of air bubbles and make sure the clay is evenly mixed, wedging is the act of kneading it. Cut the clay in half, then slam the pieces together to create a wedge. Then fold the clay in half and repeat the slamming procedure. Repeat this technique numerous times.
A PVC pipe and a lazy Susan can be used to create a cylinder wheel if you don’t have access to a pottery wheel. PVC pipe that is 24 inches long should be cut in half lengthwise and screwed to a lazy Susan. Place a slab of clay on the cylinder, spin the lazy Susan, and use your hands to shape the clay.
In conclusion, although self-taught pottery making may appear difficult, it is definitely doable with the correct tools, perseverance, and practice. You can create your own stunning pottery by starting with the fundamentals, such as trimming, wedging, and forming a cylinder wheel out of clay.
The clay that is used for throwing on a pottery wheel should be solid enough to keep its shape while still being soft enough to be malleable and easy to mold. It is advised to utilize clay that has a moisture level of between 20 and 25 percent. The clay will fracture and be difficult to shape if it is too dry, and it will be too mushy and not keep its shape if it is too moist. Finding the ideal moisture and consistency ratio will enable pleasant functioning.