Clay is a soft, earthy material made from eroded rocks that can be shaped using different methods like pinching, coil building, working with slabs, or throwing on a pottery wheel. Common techniques for working with clay include pinching pieces by hand, creating coil structures by rolling ropes of clay, forming flat slabs using rollers or pins, and shaping items on a spinning wheel using one's hands. Once formed, clay pieces are fired in a kiln to make them strong and permanent.

1. Clay!

2. What is clay?
• Clay is a soft, moist,
earthy material that is
made from eroded
rocks.

3. Methods of Working with
Clay
• Pinch
• Slab
• Coil
• Wheel

4. Pinching
• When you use the
pinching method
you use your
fingers to help
manipulate the clay
into the shape you
want.
(Pinch-pot)

5. Coil
• A coil is a rope-like
piece of clay. You
roll it out with your
hands and them
create your form
with it!

6. Slab
• A slab is a flat piece
of clay. Slab can be
rolled out with a
rolling pin or a slab
roller. Artists often
use coils to hold
slabs together.

7. Wheel
• A pottery wheel can
be used to create
ceramic pieces like
vases, plates, bowls,
etc. A spinning wheel
rotates quickly while
the artist uses
his/her hands to
shape the clay.

8. Kiln
The Journey of Clay
GreenwareLeatherhard
Kiln
Bisqueware
Glazing
Ceramics!