Like any hobby or line of career, pottery means having to start from the ground up and learn some valuable lessons along the way. There are very few people that are able to simply dive right in without making any errors, and it can take years of practice and experimentation before creating products that are ready to be sold to others.
Once you have expertly crafted your ceramic or pottery creation, there are ways to amplify your creation, the most simple being a fresh coat of paint. Most people use ceramic materials to paint their crafts. This includes oxide stains, underglazes, and slips. These materials fuse to the structure when added to the fire or oven. Baked on materials will not peel or flake off like ordinary paint. This is more suitable for objects that will be used for their functionality. If the object is purely decorative, ordinary paints will suffice and you can look into using acrylic paints or nail polish.
The global pandemic combined with the ever-growing network of the internet has made millions of people across the globe turn to the online world for their shopping needs. There has never been a better time for a budding entrepreneur to start offering their good and services to the online world, and that extends to pottery creations.
Studio safety is fundamental to living a long and healthy life as a potter. In our line of work, we may come into contact with so many different job hazards which can cause us grief way down the road. Being careful and taking preventative measures is the best way in order to stay safe in the studio for the long term.
The Japanese tradition of pottery-making, known as Tojiki, is one of the oldest in the world. Having developed in counterpoint to Chinese and other East Asain concepts of pottery, the rough, handcrafted Raku style has influenced designers not only of ceramics but of fashion and sculpture. Like fashion, pottery is an art where form has always followed function.
The pottery process consists of shaping the clay in the desired design, and then firing it in a kiln to harden the clay, make it more aesthetically pleasing, and to give it longevity. Many potters believe that the firing is the most important part of the entire process: if the kiln is too hard, the clay will crack; and if it’s too cold, it won’t harden properly.
Pottery can become a mild interest, taking up little of your time or money. Alternatively, it could become a major part of your life. If you are only starting out on your pottery journey, it is a good idea to try out clay pottery or take a beginner’s class. If you decide to start out on your own, here are some tips on how to begin.
When you first dip your toe into the pottery world, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed with the plethora of new lingo that comes with it. Don’t let that scare you off though – conquering the basics comes with practice.
The resurgence of British studio pottery in the 20th century changed the ceramics field forever. It was affected by the classical craft of pottery itself alongside the Arts and Crafts movement of the 19th century and the German Bauhaus movement. And British ceramics also developed hugely thanks to the Camberwell School of Art and Central School of Art and Design.
When you hear Renoir, Picasso and Monet, the first thing that will come to mind is France. However, painting is not the only art form that comes out of France. Pottery is one as well, although it’s less well known in other parts of the world.