Ceramics (hobby)

History

After humans determined that clay could be molded and could then hold water, they figured out how to fire the clay so the water would be retained. Pieces of these earliest containers date to 23,000 BCE, which makes ceramics one of the oldest crafts.

Pottery from the Neolithic period was formed by the coil method, in which pieces of clay are rolled out into coils and then stacked and smoothed together. Pinch pots, in which a ball of clay is shaped with the hands and fingers, were also prominent. Many artifacts feature textural decorations, or impressions, formed from pressing different shapes into the soft clay surface.

While early pottery was primarily functional, archaeologists have also discovered small sculptures and figurines. These likely had significant spiritual associations as well as aesthetic appeal.

The earliest kilns were holes dug in the earth and heated with wood. The first potter's wheel appeared in ancient Sumerian cultures at the beginning of the Bronze Age, about 3,000 BCE. The wheel is responsible for the formation of perfectly round items, including bowls, plates, vases, and other containers.

Glazes were invented about 900 BCE. This coating made of either feldspar, or silica or quartz mixed with either sodium or potassium, and later lead oxide, prevented liquids from seeping out through the clay. In addition to the functional purposes, glazes allowed for many decorative techniques.

Tiles were among the earliest items to be glazed. They enhanced the palaces of the wealthy in Babylon and other cultures just as they continue to beautify modern homes.

The ancient Greeks crafted exquisite pottery that today is collectively worth billions of dollars. Black-figure and red-figure vases and bowls were formed on the potter's wheel and then decorated so that the red earthenware contrasted with a "slip," or liquefied clay, that dried black. Many of these pots depict mythological tales, battles, or daily life in ancient Greece.

Early artistic techniques developed in ancient China as well. A significant advancement was made during the Tang Dynasty (616-906 CE), when potters introduced a tri-color glazing method, called "sancai." Three colors could be obtained from mixing iron, cobalt, or copper oxide in a transparent base, which were used to decorate both figurines and pottery. The Chinese are also credited with discovery of porcelain, or "china clay."

During the Middle Ages, Italian artisans embraced an earlier Chinese technique, called "sgraffito," in which a white slip is poured over bisqueware and then scratched to reveal either the earthenware or a tinted underglaze.

Europeans greatly admired Chinese porcelain, and in the early eighteenth century, the first china factory opened up near what is now Dresden, Germany.

The Industrial Revolution and the evolution of mass-production took a heavy toll on interest in handmade ceramics, but the craft was revived in the mid-twentieth century and continues to attract enthusiasm.

Work space/studio

Sink

• Worktable
• Drying shelves
• Heavy vinyl apron
• Sponges, wet mop, vacuum

Kiln

• Kiln furniture
• Firing cones

Safety equipment

• Welder's goggles (for use with kiln)
• Heat resistant gloves
• Dust mask and filters

General supplies

• Clay (brown or white earthenware, raku, stoneware, porcelain, or pre-stained)

Buckets

• Airtight containers, plastic bags
• Water spray bottle
• Cutting wire

Additional supplies for wheel-thrown pottery

• Potter's wheel

Ribs

• Potter's needle
• Calipers
• Texture tools

Additional supplies for hand-built pottery

• Rolling pin
• Clay extruder
• Potter's knife
• Trimming tools
• Sculpting and modeling tools
• Sgraffito tool
• Burnishing tool (a spoon or finger may work)
• Tile cutter

Ruler

Glazing supplies

Glazes

• Underglazes
• Plastic containers

Sieves

Scale

Brushes

Tongs

Sponge

• Glaze colorants
• Color wheel
• Banding wheel

Other finishing supplies

• Texture tools: Used to create a texture on the surface. Possible items include pieces of mesh, forks, leaves, shells, and plaster stamps.
• Special effects materials: Added to clay during the design process and left intact during firing to create texture and variety throughout the object. Possible items include paper, sawdust, glass, and nails.
• Chicken wire/wire mesh

Materials for coloring clay (oxides, white clay, scale, containers)

• Latex resist

Enamel

• Acrylic paint

Techniques

• Whether a clay object is formed on a wheel or by hand, the thickness of the piece should be less than ¾" for safe, optimal results during the firing process.
• Before clay can be fired, it must be dried completely.
• Pieces should be allowed to dry slowly, covered lightly with plastic.
• When clay dries, in both the air and in a kiln, it will shrink up to 10 percent. This should be taken into account when designing lids and other parts meant to fit snugly.
• Save all clay scraps. They can be reclaimed and used again.
• Glazes are usually applied to bisqueware, which are ceramic objects that have been fired once.

Safety Tips

• Kilns generate toxic fumes. An outdoor location is preferable to an indoor location, although a studio with good ventilation system is fine.
• Kilns also generate a great deal of heat and should be surrounded only by non-combustible surfaces.
• Clay dust can be toxic. Clean up using a wet sponge and a vacuum or wet mop and wear a dust mask whenever working with dry clay.
• Glazes in powder form also produce toxic dust, so a dust mask should be worn whenever mixing. Always spoon the powder, never pour.
• Pieces finished only with an underglaze, leaded glazes, or a finish other than a lead-free glaze cannot be used to hold food or beverages.

Trends

Ceramics offers many opportunities for self-expression, and no particular technique, color, or style dominates the craft. Experimentation may itself be considered a trend. Contemporary decorative techniques, with or without the use of glaze, include sponging, stenciling, marbling, and stamping. Pre-stained clays offer many contemporary possibilities as well. Popular ceramic styles shift from year to year, and often several different styles, sometimes with completely opposite aesthetics, are popular at the same time. For example, in 2018, according to the ceramics magazine Glaze, both minimalist pottery and ornate Romantic-style pottery were trendy.

While crafting pots from scratch is the traditional approach to ceramics, many contemporary crafters purchase commercially available "white-ware" or "bisqueware" which allows them to skip the formation stages and focus completely on finishes.

Ceramics for Fun vs. Profit

Ceramics is a popular art and craft, so there is a fair amount of competition in the marketplace. In addition to other artists, potters face competition from inexpensive commercial goods, especially those made abroad. However, ceramics sell well and accomplished potters or sculptors, especially those who do not mind production work, may find it possible to earn extra income in the retail market. Custom designs, teaching courses, and providing completed designs or bisqueware for the wholesale market are other possible ways to make a profit.

Learning More

Organizations

American Ceramics Society <http://www.ceramics.org/>

The Studio Potter <http://www.studiopotter.org/>

Books

Complete Ceramics: Easy Techniques and Over 20 Great Projects. Collins & Brown, 2016.

Hall, Morgen. The Potter's Primer. Iola, WI: Krause, 1997.

Kenny, John B. The Complete Book of Pottery Making. 2nd ed. Radnor, PA: Chilton, 1976.

Peck, Kristin. The Art of Handmade Tile: Complete Instructions for Carving, Casting & Glazing. Iola, WI: Krause, 2002.

Peterson, Susan. The Craft and Art of Clay. 3rd ed. New York: Overlook, 2003.