AWAKEN YOUR POTTERY WITH TEXTURE

This post was made by Patrick Vitalone, check out his pieces on Etsy. If you’re interested in posting on our blog, shoot us an email!

To me nothing adds more life to pottery than texture! It creates varied dimensions to a piece that your glazes will respond to.  It literally awakens your piece.

I started exploring texture on my pieces a few years ago and bought many of my texture tools right here at Big Ceramic Store.

The one place I really wanted to add texture was inside a plate or bowl.  Adding the texture after it was thrown proved to be nearly impossible.  I then stumbled upon a solution.  Add the texture BEFORE throwing!

Try this approach:

1. Center your clay and then bring it down until it is wider than what you want the final piece to be and is in the shape of a thick round cookie.
2. Smooth the top and let it spin on the wheel for a minute or two to dry.
3. Take a textured stamp, roller, or any material that will leave a design, dust it with cornstarch.
4. Take a textured stamp, roller, or any material that will leave a design, dust it with cornstarch.
5. Roll or stamp the texture on the clay to the very edges until the entire cookie is covered, keeping the depth consistent, but lighter on the edges of the cookie.
6. Once complete, start your wheel, grab the edge of the cookie on the inside outer edge and the outside rim and start pulling up – avoid touching the center of the cookie.
7. Continue pulling and shaping until you have the plate rim or bowl depth you want.
8. Keep your hands away from the center of the cookie, preserving your design.
9. When done, you will have a piece with a textured bottom on the inside.
10. Bisque fire. When glazing, try translucent glazes.  These will break in the designs and create depth better than opaque ones which could fill in your design.