Methods of Making

When it comes to working with clay, the possibilities and techniques are virtually infinite, but there are a few core techniques that should be familiar to any potter. In this lesson, we will take a look at some basic methods and terminology that can help you get a foundational grasp on the different approaches to creating objects out of clay.

Throwing

A potter's wheel is often the first thing people think of when they think of ceramics. Thanks to the 90's film Ghost, those imaginings may or may not include Patrick Swayze or Demi Moore. Throwing on the wheel is still an extremely popular method thanks to the speed and consistency with which a skilled potter can produce work. However, this approach is just that - a learned skill - and can take years of diligent practice to master. Don't let that scare you off, though! An absolute beginner can expect to be able to produce at least a rudimentary vessel over the course of an 8-week class.

TERMS TO KNOW

• Thrown-and-altered: A wheel-thrown piece that is cut into, distorted, or added to, altering its geometry to something other than cylindrical.
• ​Off the hump: A large ball of clay is centered on the wheel, with small amounts being pulled up, formed, cut off, and set aside. An efficient way to make many small pieces in a single session.
• Sectional: A tall piece made by throwing several contiguous sections and then attaching them one atop the other to form a piece that is larger than the potter would otherwise be able to create.

Hand Building

Hand building is exactly what it sounds like: building a piece with your hands. This may seem like a silly misnomer - after all, you use your hands when you throw on the wheel - but the term refers more to the primary tool with which you are making the piece: your hands.

Like throwing, hand building is a skill that takes years of practice to master, however it is much more accessible for beginners and requires very little upfront cost.

There are a huge number of approaches to hand building, covering a wide range of forms. Sculptures, tiles, and functional ware can all be created through variations of this process, and there are far too many methods to list here, but we will cover a few popular terms you might come across when learning more about hand building.

TERMS TO KNOW

• Slab building: An approach that uses broad, flat sections of clay to construct a piece. This method can be split into two major categories, hard slab and soft slab construction. Hard slabs are stiff and are used similar to how a carpenter uses wood boards. Soft slabs are still very pliable, and can be shaped and stretched during and after assembly.
• Armature: In sculpture, this is a structural aid on which a piece is built. It can be made from wood, wire, newspaper, or foam, and provides support to the piece during construction. An armature is typically removed before the firing process.
• Pinch pots: Often the first project taught in any beginning clay class, this method of making a pot utilizes a pinching technique to hollow and thin a ball of clay into a rudimentary vessel shape.
• Hump/slump molds: Forming aids typically used with slabs to create a desired shape. Hump/slump molds can be made from plaster, wood, or even bisqued clay. A slab is draped over (for hump) or into (for slump) the mold and allowed to stiffen up so it retains the mold's shape.

Slip Casting

Popular with mass production facilities, slip casting is the method of pouring liquid clay (slip) into a plaster mold to create a form. Unlike hump/slump molds, slip molds are mostly enclosed with the negative space inside creating the shape of the piece. The porous plaster draws water out of the slip, creating a "skin" of solid clay that grows the longer the mold is left to set. Once the desired thickness is achieved, the remaining slip is poured back out of the mold, the mold is opened (after a short waiting period), and the piece is removed.

This may seem like a quick and efficient way to produce consistent ware, but many people underestimate the amount of time and energy that goes into the setup of this process. While many commercial molds and casting slips are available, venturing into custom territory involves learning about plaster, slip formulation, and multi-part mold making, which is an art form in and of itself. That being said, a beginner who is not picky about shapes can often find used slip molds for sale locally (Craigslist or estate sales) at inexpensive prices, and commercial slip itself is not terribly expensive. Armadillo makes two low-fire casting slips right here in Austin, and offers several mid-fire options as well.

TERMS TO KNOW
Slip tank: A large storage container designed specifically for slip. They often have dispensing nozzles and a mixing apparatus called a blunger incorporated into the design.
Mold bands/straps: Large rubber bands or ratchet straps used to keep the pieces of a multi-part mold together while slip is poured into it.
Deflocculant: A chemical added to slip formulas to reduce viscosity, helping the component materials stay in suspension while also making the slip pour more smoothly. (Commercial slips already have this chemical added.)

While nearly all approaches to working with clay fall into one of these three broad categories, there are always outliers. This is nowhere near a comprehensive list. The number of hand building techniques alone could fill several dictionary-length books. Exploration lies at the heart of ceramics, and we encourage you to dig deeper into the methods that inspire you. Keep learning, keep discovering. The rabbit hole goes on forever.