The Shape Pottery Takes

Pottery has been around for centuries and is seen today in many forms. From wholly utilitarian to stunningly beautiful and incredibly fragile there are many faces to what we know of as pottery and to create those faces are many different tools, tips, tricks, and techniques. Most pottery artisans have a preferred method of marking and creating the pottery they love to make and among the most common tools used in pottery around the world today are the potter's wheel and the human hand.

Hand building is literally working with your hands to shape and mold the clay into the form you wish it to take. Much more tedious than working with a potter's wheel, hand building allows far greater control and much more finesse than using the wheel allows. For artisans who love to work with clay as an emotional outlet or simply enjoy the maximum degree of control over the clay possible, hand building is often the preferred method.

Using a potter's wheel is the other most commonly used form of working with clay in order to create all manner of pottery. Much quicker and more streamlined than hand building, the wheel offers a creative outlet in its own right. There are many potters who feel that the turning of the wheel inspires them more than the clay that is set upon it. Truth be told there is inspiration to be had by both hand building and working with a potter's wheel to those who reach out and grab it. Preferred methods aside both are infinitely enjoyable to practice and incredibly fun to learn.

If you are considering learning to create your own pottery I highly recommend that you take classes that involve both wheel work and hand building clay before deciding on one over the other. You may find that both are suitable according to your mood or the project you are working on at any given moment.

There are other tools that are used for shaping the clay that will one day become pottery and a seeming infinite array of tools that can be used to make markings in the clay for decorative purposed. The options are virtually limitless in this and are often fed by the imagination and the creative spark within artist working the clay.

Not only are the methods of working the clay important to the overall appearance and design of the finished pottery piece but also the tools that are used to mark the clay and the glaze used on the pottery have an enormous effect on the overall look of the finished piece. Glaze is used for many purposes not the least of which is decorative. One important thing about glazing pottery though is that it makes the piece water tight. The firing process is likely to altar the coloring of the glaze and this should be kept in mind whenever working with glaze for decorative purposes.

Firing is a necessary stage in the creation of pottery. In fact, it really can't be called pottery until it has completed this phase of production. Firing is also not a one-size fits all process. Different temperatures are required for different results and you should understand the various aspects of firing pottery before attempting this for yourself. Classes are highly recommended to gain a proficiency in working with kilns for the firing of pottery. Firing not only alters the appearance of the pottery being fired but also makes the pottery stronger than it's brittle state prior to firing.

What all of this amounts to is the fact that creating pottery allows for nearly infinite possibilities when it comes to function and form. You can choose to make the pieces utilitarian and plain in appearance or ornate in design and quite beautiful. The choice is completely yours as you embark on your journey to ceramic artistry and craftsmanship. Just remember to take things one step at a time and enjoy yourself as you learn more and more about this exciting craft.
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