A PowerPoint presentation naming and explaining the three hand-built ceramic techniques

1. HAND BUILT
CERAMICS TECHNIQUES
Working with Clay:
By Bernard E. Richardson | Master Teacher & Visual Arts Educator | 2022
© Bernard E. Richardson | 2022

2. • Clay is a product made from earth and water and when heated it
becomes hard.
WHAT IS CLAY?
• It is made up of very thin soil particles which becomes plastic when
wet and very hard when dry.
Plasticity: when the tiny soil particles are wet and stick together so
that the clay can be molded (shaped by hand).

3. WHAT IS CERAMICS?
• Ceramics is the general term for clay objects that have been fired to
change it to a permanent hardened state.

4. 1. Pinching method
2. Coiling method
3. Slab method
HAND BUILDING TECHNIQUES
“Hand building” ceramic technique is an ancient pottery-making
technique which involves the use of the hands, fingers and simple tools
to create forms without a pottery wheel.
The most common hand building techniques are:

5. • Is also known as the Pinch pot technique/method.
1. Pinching Technique
• This technique is a very simple technique.
How to make a Pinch pot
1. Roll a lump of
clay into a ball
using both hands
so that it fits in the
palm of the hands.
2. Holding the ball of clay
in one hand, push the
thumb of the other hand
into the middle of the ball
and press into it to open a
hole in the middle leaving
about 1/4˝ - 1/2˝ thickness
at the bottom.
3. With the thumb inside and the other fingers outside start by
gently pinching the sides of the clay from the inside with your
thumb against the fingers on the outside to form the shape you
want and leaving about 1/4" thickness at edge.

6. Pinch pot examples

7. 2. Coiling Technique
• This technique involves attaching rolls of clay called coils one on top of another
to build bowls, vases and other ceramic forms in various shapes and sizes.
1. Flatten a piece of clay to about ¼”
thickness using a rolling pin to make
the base of the pot..
Use a knife or needle to cut out the
shape of your base
2. Prepare clay coils by squeezing a small ball of clay into a
sausage shape. Roll the clay sausage on the table using the
whole length of your two hands, from fingertips to wrist.
Spread your fingers out and move your hands from the
middle of the coil outwards. Roll even coils of a reasonable
length.
How to make a Coil pot

8. 3. Using a sharp tool, score
the base and add some slip
to it. This acts as a glue and
will make the surfaces stick
together
4. Cut a coil the length of the
base shape by first lining it up
on the base. Lay the coil down
onto the base and gently press
the two surfaces together so
that they bond.
5. With the coil in place, use the thumb or
a modelling tool to blend the clay coils
together to make the walls stronger. (The
fingers make it smoother).
When the surface is blended, you loose
the coil design. So if you want the coils to
be visible on the outside you should blend
the surface on the inside of the pot.
How to make a Coil pot (Cont’d)

9. Coiling examples

10. 3. Slab method Technique
• Slab building method involves the rolling out of clay to an even thickness
creating slabs and then cutting shapes and joining the clay together to
form a finished product.

11. 1. Place a lump of clay on the
work table and flatten it
down a little using the heel of
the hand. This will make the
job of rolling easier.
2. With a rolling pin and two roller guides (one on either side of the clay)
begin rolling out the slab. This is to get it rolled evenly with equal
thickness through out.
Roll the slab in one direction. Then pick it up and turn it around and
continue rolling in that direction.
• After the slap is prepared, you can cut pieces to create an object (pot, vase etc.). A slab pot can be made out of
one single clay slab by draping a single clay slab over or into a mold to create the shape of the mold OR a few
pieces can be cut out of the slab and joined together to make a more angular piece.
How to make a Slab pot

12. 3. Using paper create a
template which will used as
a guide to help cut out the
pieces so that they are the
right size and shape. This
process is best done when
the clay is leather hard.
4. Once the pieces are cut out of the clay they are then joined together to
create the pottery.
The edges are first scored and slip is applied. The slabs are then joined
together. A small coil is added along the edge where the edges join and a
smooth tool is used to blend it in to help reinforce the edge.
Once the slab pot is finished, the clay surface is tidied up using a rib tool.
How to make a Slab pot (Cont’d)

13. Slab method examples

14. • https://abbysartportfolio.weebly.com/pinch-pot-research.html
• The Art of Education University. How to make a pinch pot,
https://theartofeducation.edu/flex/collections/pinch-pottery/
• https://thepotterywheel.com/how-to-make-coil-pots/
• http://www.monkeydoit.com/clay-basics.php
• https://thepotterywheel.com/make-a-clay-slab/
• https://thepotterywheel.com/ceramic-techniques/
RESOURCES

15. • http://abbysartportfolio.weebly.com/uploads/9/2/4/4/9244141/1977732.jpg
• https://abbysartportfolio.weebly.com/uploads/9/2/4/4/9244141/1262294.jpg
• https://dl.airtable.com/.attachmentThumbnails/aa47c0bb491e1132379b881c2762cdb0/fa80c1f3
• http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-
0oCpUrKaPbQ/TZIAIVixMUI/AAAAAAAAARc/8MwaHPTzr_8/s1600/slab%2B1.jpg
IMAGE COURTESIES

16. THE END