Howdy folks! If you’re reading this, it means you’re interested in the wonderful world of pottery making. Creating pottery is a fun and rewarding process that requires patience, creativity, and a little bit of elbow grease. In this article, I’ll be guiding you through the 8 step pottery making process so that you can create your own masterpiece.
Step 1: Wedging – The first step in making pottery is to prepare your clay. This is done through a process called wedging, which involves kneading the clay to eliminate air bubbles and make it more pliable.
Step 2: Centering – Once your clay is wedged, you’ll need to center it on the potter’s wheel. This involves getting the clay to spin uniformly and creating a symmetrical form.
Step 3: Opening – After centering, you’ll need to open up the clay by creating a hole in the center. This is done by pressing your thumbs into the clay and working your way outwards.
Step 4: Pulling – Next, you’ll use your fingers to gently pull the walls of the clay upward, smoothing and shaping the form as you go.
Step 5: Trimming – Once the pot is shaped, you’ll need to trim away any excess clay to create a uniform thickness and clean up the bottom of the piece.
Step 6: Drying – After trimming, the piece needs to dry. This involves letting the pottery sit and air dry until it’s firm enough to handle without losing its shape.
Step 7: Bisque Firing – Once the pottery is dry, it’s time for the first firing. Bisque firing involves heating the pottery to a low temperature in order to harden it and prepare it for glazing.
Step 8: Glazing and Firing – The final step is to apply glaze to the pottery and fire it once more at a higher temperature. This creates a glass-like finish on the piece and makes it waterproof.
As you can see, the pottery making process is a multi-step journey, but it’s one that’s incredibly rewarding. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, the joy of creating something with your own two hands is always worthwhile. So go ahead and give it a try who knows, you might just discover a new passion!
