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The Process
Want to learn how to do pottery yourself? It's very simple! This page will show you the materials you need, where to get them, my personal process and more.
DISCLAIMER: This page on its own is not enough to start a clay project; please do further research on your specific clay type/brand and the safety precautions that need to be taken.
Materials
Depending on your craft, you will need a specific type of clay. I use a variety of 3: pottery clay, which needs to be fired in a kiln (there are websites to find a kiln for public use near you), polymer clay, which you need to bake in an oven to harden, and finally, the easiest option: air dry clay, which hardens over a few days with no other resources. You can grab pottery clay online (I use LowFire 05/06) and the other two types at your local craft store.
Pottery clay is usually used for larger projects such as dishes, bowls, and sculptures exceeding 5 inches. Since polymer clay needs an oven, these are for smaller projects like the pendants in my shop. Air dry clay is the most beginner friendly because it has no constraints.
1. Gather tools: Ruler, scalpel, ribbon tool at the least. You can either work on any flat surface, or (preferably this option) take a piece of plywood and staple/tape down canvas cloth on it to prevent your clay from sticking to one surface too much.
2. Sculpt your creation! Keep in mind the constraints of your clay type and research your material. For example, a solid piece of pottery clay may blow up in the kiln; it has to be hollowed out because the moisture in a solid piece of pottery clay cannot withstand the heat of a kiln, so it pressurizes and blows up. But both other types have limited constraints.
3. Set your clay to harden. For pottery clay, you may use websites like Kiln Share or Find a Kiln, both of which are reliable websites. Polymer clay can be fired in the oven, take note of the firing directions on the packaging. Air dry clay can be left out in any dry area and may take at least 48 hours.
4. Decorate! This step is my most favorite: When your clay is completely dry and hardened, you can take any acrylic paint and coat your creation or paint your design on with brushes. Paint markers also work for this step. Specific to pottery clay, you can even use different types of glazes to create a beautiful finish, but this needs to be done 1 to 7 days PRIOR to firing.
5. Seal your clay. This is an optional step if you like the grip of unsealed clay. Sealing helps with keeping pottery creations intact, free of dust, keeps the paint from peeling/cracking off, and makes them less likely to break. Wait for your paint to try, and then coat it with clear Mod Podge (also found at your local craftstore) on a brush. It may look white at first, but make sure to buy the clear type so that it dries without a trace. Mod Podge can be used for all 3 types of clay.
6. Repeat! If you do happen to be inspired by my products and create your own, please send me pictures via instagram (found below), email, or the contact form! I love to see creatives create, and it is heartwarming to know I helped with that :)