The Joy of Pottery: Creating Your Own Ceramic Pinch Pot from a Lump of Clay
Learn how to create a simple yet functional ceramic piece in a few steps.
Are you curious about the pottery wheel but not ready to commit to a pottery wheel lesson? Or do you want to try your hand at clay but are not sure about getting so muddy? If either of these apply to you or if you have ever wanted to try your hand at pottery, making a pinch pot is a great place to start. It's a simple project that anyone can do with just a lump of clay and their own two hands. With pottery, the possibilities are endless and the joy of designing and creating something beautiful with your own hands is priceless. Pottery is a creative and fulfilling craft that has been practiced for centuries. Pinch pots are among the most primitive and simplest forms of pottery, but they are also among the most versatile and enjoyable to make. In this blog post, we'll guide you through the process of creating your very own pinch pot and adding some design elements to make it unique. So, let's get started!
Materials Needed: When it comes to making your own pinch pot, you don't need a lot of fancy equipment or materials. In fact, except for the clay, most of the things you'll need can be found right in your own home or easily bought at a local art supply store.
Here's a list of the basic materials you'll need to get started:
1. Clay: Choose a clay that is suitable for hand-building with clay. I recommend starting with ½ to 1 lb pieces. There are many types of clay available, so be sure to select one that is suitable for your desired outcome. There are two clay suppliers I highly recommend, Aardvark Clay and Supplies and Laguna Clay. If you live in Southern California, they both have walk-in retail locations, but they also offer online ordering. Note for those who do not have a kiln or access to a kiln for firing their ceramics, Laguna offers a high quality air dry clay, Mexo
2. Clay tools: You'll need some basic clay tools like a rolling pin, a clay cutter, and a smooth sponge or a rib for smoothing out the clay.
3. Work surface: A clean and smooth work surface is essential for working with clay. You can use a large piece of canvas, a wooden board, or a silicon as your work surface. I recommend ¾” cabinet grade plywood cut into at least 12” x 12” pieces when hand-building with clay.
4. Water: Having a small bowl of water nearby will help you keep your hands and tools moist as you work with the clay. And will also work as “slip” if you end up adding any decorative pieces to your pinch pot.
5. Optional: If you want to add some extra flair to your pinch pot, you can also gather some additional materials like stamps, textures, or other objects that you can use to create interesting designs on the surface of your pinch pot.
6. Food safe pottery glaze if you are able to fire and glaze your pottery and plan to use it for food. Or acrylic paint and a sealer (to make it water resistant) if you use air dry clay. *note your pinch pot will not be food safe with this method.
Now that you have all the necessary materials, it's time to dive into the exciting world of pinch pot design and creation!
Getting Started with your Pinch Pot: A gallery of images for reference are at the end of this post
To get started making a pinch pot, you'll need to gather your materials and set up your workspace. Make sure you have a clean and smooth work surface, such as a wooden board or a silicone mat. Grab your chosen clay and clay tools, such as a rolling pin and a clay cutter. Having a small bowl of water nearby will also be helpful to keep your hands and tools moist as you work with the clay.
Once you have everything you need, it's time to start shaping your pinch pot. Begin by taking a small ( ½ to 1 lb) piece of clay and rolling it into a ball. Then, use your thumb to make a deep indentation in the center of the ball. With your hand in the shape of a lobster claw, (thumb on inside of the piece and fingers on the outside), gently pinch and shape the clay, gradually working your way around to create the desired shape and height for your piece. Make overlapping, gentle pinches working at a steady pace to avoid the clay drying out.
Continue pinching up and down the ball as you use your opposite hand for support and to slowly rotate the ball of clay to ensure even walls. As the pinch pot opens up and gets taller, it can also become a bit wobbly. It is best to keep the pinch pots under 4” high and wide. At this point you can refine the shaping, trimming, and adding any decorative touches to your pot.
If you want your pinch pot to be cylindrical, it is best to make two shorter pinch pots and connect them. You can do this through a simple score and slip method. Score both pieces to be joined with a scoring tool, toothpick, or plastic fork. Then take a small amount of water and add to the scored surface. Join the two sides. Gently wiggle them in place until you feel them connect. You can use a rib or other tool with a flat surface to smooth out the crack where you joined them.
Adding Texture and Personalizing Your Pinch Pot: Once you have finished shaping the walls and bottom of your pinch pot, it's time to add some texture and personality to make it truly unique. There are many creative ways to achieve this, so let's dive in!
One simple technique is to use different tools or objects to create textures on the surface of your pot. You can use a toothpick, a fork, or even a comb to make interesting patterns and designs. Experiment with different pressures and angles to create varying textures.
Another option is to incorporate other pinch pots into your design. Attach smaller pinch pots onto the surface of your vase to create a raised pattern or decorative elements. This adds dimension and visual interest to your vase. You can also cut out small designs with cookie cutters or other stamps and add them to the surface of your pot. You attach them using the score and slip method previously addressed above.
Finishing Touches and Glazing your Pinch Pot: Now that you've created the perfect shape and added some texture to your pinch pot vase, it's time to add those finishing touches that will make it truly stand out. This is where glazing comes in. Glazing not only adds a beautiful glossy finish to your vase but also helps to protect it and make it more durable. If you made your pinch pot with air dry clay, at this point you would allow it to dry for a few days and then apply acrylic paint as well as some use a polyurethane or acrylic sealer to make it water proof. If you chose clay that needs to be fired in a kiln, read on to see what comes next.
You have two choices when it comes to applying glaze. You can apply an underglaze to the greenware, allow it to dry out until it is bone dry, bisque fire it, then dip it in a clear gloss or matte glaze and fire it again. Or simply let it dry to bone dry, bisque fire, then apply an all in one color glaze and fire it again.
Regardless of which route you choose, it is important to make sure your pot is completely dry before you fire it the first time. Allow it to dry out slowly by lightly covering it in plastic. This is important to prevent any cracking or warping during the firing process. Once it's dry, you can choose from a wide range of glaze colors and finishes to achieve the desired look for your pinch pot.
Using a brush or a sponge, carefully apply the glaze to the surface of your vase. Make sure to cover every inch of it, including the inside if you wish. You can apply multiple coats for a richer color or try layering different glazes for a more unique effect.
Once you've finished applying the glaze, it's time to fire your pinch pot in a kiln. Follow the instructions for your specific clay and glaze to ensure the best results.
After firing, you'll be left with a stunning and one-of-a-kind pinch pot vase that is ready to be displayed or gifted to someone special. Enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes with creating something beautiful with your own two hands.
Remember, the beauty of pinch pots is that they can be as simple or as elaborate as you'd like. You can experiment with different shapes and sizes, or even combine multiple pinch pots to create a unique design. The possibilities are endless, especially when it comes to hand-built ceramics.
So, go ahead and unleash your creativity as you delve into the art form of pinch pots. For those who need guided instruction, are interested in taking a class to learn more about this and other forms of pottery, Mud Hut Potter and Art Studio offers a variety of lessons to those with little or no experience and also to the novice potters wanting to sharpen their skills. Mud Hut has pottery wheel and hand building lessons as well as paint-your-own-pottery for those who prefer painting a beautiful readymade piece over creating a piece from scratch. Check out Mud Hut here.
