Making videos became a useful way to share ideas during 2020. Something I’d not done before, but rather enjoyed. It turns out that my mirrorless Canon M50 camera, which I bought for still photography, is just the thing for video too.
As college reopened, this seemed a useful way to demonstrate pottery techniques, and share some tips, when I could no longer say, “Gather round everyone!” The following are pottery videos that I made principally for my students, present, and future. Women and men, who like me, are getting hooked on clay through daytime adult ed pottery classes. I filmed these various techniques and pottery making processes in my home studio.
Videos about Pottery making
Find the most recent film at the top of this list.
This is a video which I plan to remake at some stage, because, as you will see, not everything went completely to plan; probably because I have not done one of these for a while, and I was talking non stop! However, for the time being, I will swallow my pride, and share, because I learnt along the way, and perhaps you will find that useful.
I discuss making larger pots on the wheel by throwing several sections and joining them together.
This is another long video, so you may like to go to particular parts to find what you are interested in, or simply settle down with a cup of coffee.
The first 12 minutes cover what glaze is, what it is made from, and some comments about mixing a recipe, or buying ready mixed glaze.
From about 14 minutes I talk about pyrometric cones, particularly with reference to selecting glazes to buy, and then explain what cones are. I include cones in this firing so that you can see what happens.
The ‘action’ starts from minute 24 when I introduce wax emulsion, and what it does and doesn’t do for you.
From minute 28 I demonstrate preparing a dipping glaze for use, and then dipping various pots.
Minute 45 for cleaning up bases and edges, and then comments on packing a glaze kiln from minute 49.
The final ten minutes or so cover setting off and monitoring the firing, and the video finishes with unpacking and a look at the results.
This is a long video, so dip in to find what you’re looking for, or settle down for an hour!
The full video takes you through the process of designing and making a new pot. As always, there are things to learn as I go, and I reflect on better ways of working for the next version. The best pots, the ones in galleries and all over Instagram, have started with prototypes that didn’t go so well. If you can make several mistakes on one pot, and work out how to do it better next time, that’s great! It is the only way to learn.
The first bit is an introduction to cutting lino, and how lino blocks can be used to decorate clay.
I then show the process of trying out and adjusting new stamps, giving tips on slab rolling and cutting out a vase from about minute 20.
From minute 25, I am wheel throwing tops for the lino decorated slab bottle.
Cutting and making mitred joints is covered from minute 33, and adding a base from minute 50. General tips about making strong joins in clay are covered here, and making repairs at the leather hard stage. I discuss use of tools for forming joints and tidying up, relevant to many hand-building projects.
I show examples of plaster and bisque stamps on my work, give tips on making your own, and demonstrate adding stamped decoration to some dog bowls. There is repetition of the technique, for the last ten minutes. The close up filming and fading afternoon light mean that this is not as sharp as the other videos, but I think you can see what I’m doing.
How to recycle your scraps of dry, firm, soft and sloppy clay, so that it is ready to use again. I show you the whole process, with some speeded up wedging; I don’t have superpowers!
I’m throwing dog bowls with four pounds of clay, (about 1.8 kg) The principle is the same as for any wide flat based pot. It’s all about the base!
This film takes you through a bisque firing for studio pottery; that is the first firing of bone dry clay work. I take you through loading, firing, and unpacking one particular batch of pots in my home studio, over several days. I have a cautious approach, which I discuss; look elsewhere for more dramatic, risky pottery making!
Throwing a simple cylinder on the potters’ wheel – step by step, with repetition and tips.
Preparing clay by wedging and kneading – where clay comes from, and getting it ready to make pottery.
What to bring to pottery class during a pandemic – and how to put together a pottery tool kit without breaking the bank.