Clay Handbuilding Techniques

PinchCoil Slab

Paddle (Hollowing-out)

Basic Handbuilding Techniques

• Pinch- using the thumb and fingers to press a ball of clay into a hollow form

• Coil- using snakelike ropes of clay; generally for making rounded, organic forms

• Slab- a flat piece of clay created by rolling a roller over the clay or by pressing with hands; generally for making geometric forms

• Paddle- beating the surface of clay with a paddle. This could also be done with a solid piece of clay that is then hollowed out.

Pinch

Coil

Coils can be left visible or smoothed out.

Coils placed in a press mold (bowl)

Slab

Slab pots can have any number of sides.

Paddle – Marks or textures can be created, but do not have to be left visible.

Clay Vocabulary

The stages of clay:1. Slip2. Plastic3. Leather-hard4. Greenware or bone dry5. Bisqueware6. Glazeware

Other terms:ClayCeramicReclaimingWedgingKilnFiring ScoreGlazeUnderglaze

Decorative Techniques

• Underglaze – A colored clay coating applied before glaze. Allows for precise, detailed designs.

• Glaze - A mixture of clay, glass materials, and water; a coating of colored, opaque, or transparent material applied to ceramics (essentially a glass coating); forms a protective moisture-proof coating if fired to maturation.

Underglaze: colored clay, no glass. Will not run and will not stick to the kiln shelf. Good for precise detailed designs. A liquid glaze is applied over top.

Glaze: has glass in it and colors can run or bleed together (some will run more than

others). Must be removed from bottom of pot or it will melt and stick to kiln shelf.