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What is a coil method?

The coil method is one of the oldest techniques in ceramics. To begin, you will roll strips of clay into a worm shape piece. This can be any shape or size, depending on how large the overall piece will be. After making the coils, you place them over one another and blend them together. This will latch the pieces as one. This can be repeated until you decide when the piece is large enough. This technique is good for making pots and different shapes.

What can you really do with clay?

Have you ever wondered how artists sometimes create such magnificent pieces with just a block of clay? Not only with talent, anyone can master the skill of ceramics with the right technique.

So what are you waiting for? Discover the world of clay!

Pinching clay together

Pinching clay is a simple technique most beginners use. To start, you take a ball of clay and open a hole in the middle. Then, you start pinching the sides to form the shape you want. If you want a square, you pinch consistently to get four sides. If you want a circle, you pinch circler around the clay ball.When talking about pinching, this means you press two fingers together with the clay between them. You can push the clay outwards to increase the clays shape.

What are slabs of clay?

Slabs are long, flat, stretched pieces of clay. The best way to get a slab is to use a pin roller and consistently roll it on a chunk of clay. Next, you take the slab and lay it over a surface that you want your clay to form to. A good surface could be a bowl or jar. You can place the clay inside the object or over its outside to get that specific shape.

Pinching clay together

When using the pinching technique, you can add more clay as needed. To do this, you just take tiny pieces of clay and pinch them onto the projects top brim. Pinching is best used for pots of any shape.

Wheel throwing works!

A ball of clay is thrown in the middle of a potters wheel as it spins. The clay is shaped by your hands while it moves in a circular motion. When moving the clay up and down, in and out to form the perfect shape- keeping the clay wet is key. This is all done carefully with the hands and fingers.

What are slabs of clay?

When connecting slabs, you should use wet clay to press them together. This will help the pieces stay connected and not fall apart.

We love hand building!

Hand building is the perfect technique for all ages. In order to hand build, you just play with clay to get the desired shape or object. Do you remember those days of Play-doh? Nothing has changed with clay!

Also, using tools can help perfect any details you want.

We love hand building!

Whats your ideas?

Techniques In Ceramics

Further Ideas for Projectsand Extra NotesWrite Them Below

Coil Method

Pinching

Slab Building

Hand Building

Wheel Throwing

NewTechnique of Your Own:

Bibliography

Pictures Retrieved from Ceramic Art DailyCeramics Publication Company. "Ceramic Arts Daily." Ceramic Arts Daily - Featured Archives. American Ceramic Society. Web. 16 Sept. 2010. .

"Glossary of Ceramics and Clay Terms." The Collector's Guide. F & W Media. Web. 16 Sept. 2010. .

Hopper, Robin. Making Marks: Discovering the Ceramic Surface. Iola, WI: KP, 2004. Print.