Making Clay Pottery by Hand: A Step-by-Step Guide

Making pottery is the art of creating earthenware vessels from clay. The process involves shaping a vessel, by hand or with tools, and cooking it in a kiln, or letting it dry and harden. Ancient civilizations used pottery for all sorts of things, from storing oil, wine, and other foodstuffs, to holding papyrus scrolls, the organs of dead god-kings, perfumes, and various religious offerings. Because pottery is durable and lasts long after its creator is gone, it has helped us to learn about entire groups of people that we might have otherwise never known; these hand-crafted objects tell stories, not only from their complex structural designs, but also the carefully wrought stories painted on their surfaces, a sort of iconography of a time and place in history.

In this free clay pottery video series, learn how to make handmade pots of different types, specifically a pinch pot and a traditional coil pot. Our expert will give you step-by-step instructions to make your own pottery, including what tools you ll need, what type of clay to choose, how to form the base of the pot and add coils, smoothing and finishing techniques, and how to add a glaze to the pot at the end. These beginner pottery videos will help you discover the art that people have been practicing since time immemorial.
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Author: Expert Village