How to Make Pottery

Pottery is a hand-built or wheel-thrown art form that requires firing at high temperatures in a kiln to remove water and set the molded clay into its final form. It’s a highly specialized craft, and the skills and equipment used by professional potters differ from those needed by the average hobbyist.

To make pottery, you’ll need a few basic tools, including a pugmill or wheel to help shape the clay. There are also a number of different kilns that can be used, depending on the type of pottery you’re creating. Specialized kilns like soda or salt kilns are used to create specific surface results, like bumpy glazes or orange peel-like appearances.

The first step in the creation of pottery is determining whether or not there’s usable clay available. Historically, the earliest examples of pottery have been found in areas with abundant deposits of clay that can be shaped and fired into ceramic materials. It was not until the Industrial Revolution that pottery moved from village craft to mass-production in factories.

Clay is a naturally occurring resource that comes in many colors, though white clay – known as kaolin clay – is considered the best. It’s the primary material in most pottery, and it can be mixed with other clays to achieve a desired color or texture.

The next step in making pottery is the initial firing, which is called a bisque firing. This is a crucial process, as it determines the strength of your finished piece. It’s important to follow the prescribed cone settings exactly, or your finished piece may burst and shatters.

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