Pottery is vibrant with life. Pleasing to the eye and touch, it carries history and human sensitivity. But creating handmade ceramics professionally requires years of experience, aesthetic sensitivity, deep technical skill and a great deal of patience.
We’ve simplified in this article the main stages of creating a piece. Most artists, however, add extra steps to establish their own style.
I. Design
This first stage focuses on function and aesthetics. We ask: What purpose will this bowl serve? How will the hand rest on this handle? Should the plate have a foot? Will the plates stack well? After sketching and testing, we move to small-batch production.
II. Wedging
Air bubbles in clay make it hard to manipulate and can create structural issues (like cracking or exploding during firing) later on. As a solution, we wedge clay to eliminate them and to ensure a uniform consistency.
III. Production
There are three artisanal methods that vary based on the design and production goals of the artist:
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Hand-Building
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Wheel throwing
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Mold-Making
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The most ancient form of ceramic making, hand-building involves potters creating pieces using techniques such as modeling, coiling (stacking and joining rope-like rolls of clay), or shaping clay slabs. This versatile technique allows for an infinite variety of forms.
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The potter places a ball of clay on a fast-rotating disk and shapes it using water and targeted movements of the hands and body. We focus on shaping the inside because we will trim the exterior, as we will discuss below. |
Artists use plaster to make a mold from a master model made of clay they want to reproduce. It allows for small batches of consistent shapes. A common method is slip casting, where liquid clay is poured into molds. Alternatively, they can press plastic clay on a rigid structure to shape it. |
IV. Trimming and attachments
This is where the piece takes its recognizable shape. After it has dried to a firm but still workable state—called leather-hard—the potter places each wheel-thrown item back on the wheel to trim away excess clay with sharp tools. During this phase, the artist also creates and carefully attaches handles, spouts, and other attachments, like those on mugs and teapots.
V. Drying and first firing (bisque)
Before going into the kiln—a high-temperature oven used for ceramics and glass—pieces must be completely dry. We load it like a game of Tetris; efficient placement is essential to ensure proper air circulation.
This initial firing –subjecting clay to intense heat – is called the bisque firing and takes anywhere from 8 to 12 hours. The purpose of this stage is to harden the clay, making it sturdy enough to handle but still porous enough to absorb glaze. For most clays, the firing temperature ranges from 999°C to 1,060°C (or 1,830°F to 1,940°F).
VI. Glazing
After letting the kiln cool for at least a day to prevent thermal shock, pieces are unloaded for glazing. This mineral-based coating, applied by dipping, spraying, or brushing, adds color and texture when fired at intense temperatures.
Developing glazes requires a foundational understanding of chemistry. For some ceramists, it can be a lifelong pursuit, with a single formula taking months to develop and representing decades of dedicated refinement. While commercially available glazes offer stability, many artists formulate their own to unlock a limitless palette of colors and textures.
VII. Second firing (glaze firing)
Once the glaze has dried, ceramists return pieces to the kiln for a second firing, or glaze firing, typically reaching temperatures around 1,200°C to 1,300°C (2,192°F and 2,372°F) for stoneware and porcelain. The firing can last from 6 to 12 hours, but the total cycle time extends significantly because of the essential cooling phase. During this stage, the intense heat causes the glaze compounds to melt and fuse, creating a smooth, glasslike surface. It is also here that porcelain and stoneware fully vitrify, sealing them completely from water.
Unloading the cooled kiln is the ultimate reward, revealing a beautiful, vibrant finished piece.
VIII. Recycling
Most potters reduce waste by reclaiming unfired clay. They can rehydrate and reuse trimmings and scraps indefinitely, and this gives them new life for future creations.
IX. Cleaning
While ceramics and wet clay are perfectly safe, silica – a key material in clay and glass –is hazardous when airborne. That is why their practice includes a good amount of time cleaning to keep a healthy environment in their studio.
Each handmade ceramic piece results from extensive experience, creative vision, and careful craftsmanship. It's a testament to the time and skill invested in every detail.
