Pottery is one of the oldest art forms. Archaeological excavations have uncovered some of the most beautiful and well-preserved wares from civilizations around the world.
The earliest forms of pottery are thought to be the pots people used to transport water. They gathered clay, shaped it, and baked it in the sun or hot ashes to make the containers we know as pots today.
The Basics
Pottery has long been a staple of home design and decor, serving both functional and aesthetic purposes. Whether it’s an antique urn or an array of contemporary vases, pottery decor provides a visual intrigue that helps to add substance and soul to a space.
In order to get started making your own pottery, you’ll need a few basic tools and techniques. First, you’ll need to choose the right clay.
There are three main types of pottery: earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. Earthenware pottery is made from clay that has been dug out of the ground and fired at a lower temperature than stoneware or porcelain. It’s porous, which means it absorbs water.
The Potter’s Wheel
The potter’s wheel revolutionized ancient pottery making by allowing people to create objects in a shorter amount of time. It also allowed people to experiment with different forms and aesthetics.
A potter’s wheel is a device that allows you to spin clay while it’s still wet, which can help shape the ceramic piece into a more desirable form. There are many different kinds of potter’s wheels, including both electrical and manual styles.
When it comes to choosing the right potter’s wheel for you, consider what type of clay you will be using and what you want your finished piece to look like. Then, choose a wheel that best fits your needs and budget.
To help speed up the throwing process, you can use a potter’s cartwheel or kick wheel, which require no hands to operate. This allows you to keep your hands free for more important tasks, like moistening the pottery or shaping it into its final form.
The Hand
The hand is a vital part of the pottery process. It shapes the clay, and it is also a tool for working out creative knots in the brain.
It is one of the most effective stress relief techniques, because it is an exercise that can disconnect you from outside negative influences and put you in a state of relaxation and meditation. It also lowers your cortisol levels, which can relieve depression and other mental disorders.
Pottery can be therapeutic for children, as it teaches them how to problem solve and explore their creativity. It can hone their spatial awareness and help them build their confidence.
It also promotes joint movement and dexterity, which can be helpful for those with arthritis in their hands. It is a gentle, non-strenuous activity that requires little effort. It also offers a lot of creative freedom. In addition, it is an excellent form of physical therapy and exercise. It can even strengthen the hands, wrists and arms.
The Kiln
The Kiln is an essential part of the Pottery process. It allows the chemical and physical changes to occur that permanently alter an unfired clay body.
In modern kilns, these processes are controlled by electronic systems or pyrometric devices. However, kilns have been used for millennia to make pottery and other ceramics.
There are many different shapes and sizes of kilns. Some fire using electricity and others use fuel.
When firing a kiln, clay needs to be dry. If it is moist, the resulting steam can explode or break the pottery.
Some kilns have a bag wall on the inside of the kiln to help direct the flame and prevent it from coming into contact with the ware.
Some kilns have automatic controllers that allow you to sync your computer and your phone to monitor your process. These controllers usually come with presets that are easy to program.
