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<p><img src="../en/images/methods_title.gif" width="106" height="21" alt="Methods">
<img name="methods" border="0" src="images/methodsOff.gif" width="65" height="19" alt="methods" title="Learn more about methods used to create ceramic art"><a href="MaterialsFrameEn.html"><img name="materials" border="0" src="images/materialsOff.gif" width="60" height="19" alt="materials" title="Discover some of the materials used in ceramic art"></a><a href="FiringFrameEn.html"><img name="firing" border="0" src="images/firingOff.gif" width="39" height="19" alt="firing" title="Understand more about the process that turns clay into ceramic"></a><a href="DecorationsFrameEn.html"><img name="decorations" border="0" src="images/decorationsOff.gif" width="83" height="19" alt="decorations" title="Explore techniques used to add details to a piece"></a>
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<p><span class="title">Wheel Throwing</span><span class="bodytext"><br>
Wheel thrown pottery is produced on a potter's wheel. This rotating wheel "throws"
the clay outwards, and the potter uses his hands to control and mold it against
this force. This technique is often used to produce symmetrical vessel forms
such as bowls, vases, and plates.</span><br>
<span class="menutia">Thrown Bowl <a href="video/methods/BowlLow.html" title="A bowl being thrown">small</a>
(2.0 Mb) <a href="video/methods/BowlHigh.html" title="A bowl being thrown">large</a>
(5.7 Mb) | Thrown Cylinder <a href="video/methods/CylinderLow.html" title="A vase being thrown">small</a>
(2.0 Mb) <a href="video/methods/CylinderHigh.html" title="A vase being thrown">large</a>
(6.1 Mb) | Thrown Plate <a href="video/methods/PlateLow.html" title="A plate being thrown">small</a>
(2.5 Mb) <a href="video/methods/PlateHigh.html" title="A plate being thrown">large</a>
(11.4 Mb) | <a href="examples/SuresBowlEn.html" title="View an example of wheel throwing by Jack Sures">artwork
example</a></span></p>
<p><span class="title">Hand Forming</span><br>
<span class="bodytext"> In this technique, the potter uses tools or simple hand
pressure in forming a clay body. Hand forming is often used in more sculptural
forms and combined with other forming methods to produce the final object.</span><br>
<span class="menutia">Pinch Pot Video <a href="video/methods/HandformLowEn.html" title="A demonstration of hand forming a pinch pot">small</a>
(3.0 Mb) <a href="video/methods/HandformHighEn.html" title="A demonstration of hand forming a pinch pot">large</a>
(6.9 Mb) | <a href="examples/KavikFigureEn.html" title="View an example of hand forming by John Kavik">artwork
example</a></span></p>
<p><span class="title">Coil Construction</span><span class="bodytext"><br>
Coiling is an age old technique of building pots or sculpture's by laying coils
or ropes of clay one upon another and working them together. Coiling can be
treated as a preliminary to pinching, stroking and even throwing. </span><br>
<span class="menutia"> Coil Bowl <a href="video/methods/CoilBowlLow.html" title="A coil bowl being built">small</a>
(2.6 Mb) <a href="video/methods/CoilBowlHigh.html" title="A coil bowl being built">large</a>
(6.5 Mb) | <a href="examples/DriverKerslakeLargeBowlEn.html" title="View an example of coil contruction by Heather Driver Kerslake">artwork
example 1</a> | <a href="examples/McKayGrecianVaseEn.html" title="View an example of coil contruction by Denise McKay">artwork
example 2</a></span></p>
<p><span class="title">Slab Construction</span><span class="bodytext"><br>
This technique uses pieces of clay which are formed through rolling and pressing.
The slabs can then be cut into shapes and manipulated in a variety of ways.
Once the desired shape is achieved the piece is fired. The terms hard slab and
soft slab refer to the relative hardness of the clay body itself during the
forming process.</span><br>
<span class="menutia">Slab Figure <a href="video/methods/SlabmanLow.html" title="A small figure being built with slab contruction">small</a>
(2.7 Mb) <a href="video/methods/SlabmanHigh.html" title="A small figure being built with slab contruction">large</a>
(6.4 Mb) | Slab Teapot <a href="video/methods/SlabteapotLow.html" title="A teapot being built with slab contruction">small</a>
(2.8 Mb) <a href="video/methods/SlabteapotHigh.html" title="A teapot being built with slab contruction">large</a>
(5.1 Mb) | <a href="examples/HeislerFootedBowlEn.html" title="View an example of slab contruction by Franklyn Heisler">artwork
example</a></span></p>
<p><span class="title">Slip Casting</span><span class="bodytext"><br>
Slip casting is the making of pottery in molds using liquid body or slip. The
mold is filled with slip. The absorption of water from the slip by the plaster
causes a thin wall of clay to be deposited on the surface of the mold. Surplus
slip is then poured off and the cast is left to dry and shrink away from the
mold. Once dry the new form can be removed from the mold and fired.</span><br>
<span class="menutia"><a href="examples/HeinemannUntitledEn.html" title="View an example of slip casting by Steven Heinemann">artwork
example</a></span></p>
<p><span class="title">Tools</span><span class="bodytext"><br>
Tools are used to manipulate clay in various fashions, depending on the tool
and the desired result. They can include everything from simple wooden sculpture
tools to the pottery wheel.</span><br>
<span class="menutia"><a href="examples/ToolsEn.html" title="Learn more about the specific tools used to create ceramic art">tools
example</a></span></p>
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