Learn with Clay ~ Skills & Techniques

Download Free Pottery Tip Sheets

• FREE PDF |Wheel Throwing Basics
  Foundational techniques for centering, pulling walls, shaping forms, and improving consistency on the wheel.

• FREE PDF |Wheel Throwing Large Forms
  Tips for throwing taller and wider vessels, managing weight, and joining sections successfully.

• FREE PDF |Sgraffito Carving
  Create crisp, detailed carvings with confidence. Learn the ideal stage of clay for carving, how to apply underglazes, choose the right tools, and avoid common mistakes.

• FREE PDF |Joining with Magic Glue – No Scoring Required
  A guide to using paper clay slip “magic glue” for strong joins with less mess and handling.

Coming Soon

• Clay Stages Explained
  Understand the difference between wet, leather hard, bone dry, bisque, and glaze-fired clay.

• Essential Pottery Tools
  A simple guide to the most useful beginner pottery tools and what they’re used for

• Botanical Impressions in Clay
  Tips for capturing detailed textures using leaves, bark, seed pods, and native botanicals.

• Slab Building Basics
  Techniques for rolling, compressing, shaping, and constructing strong slab-built forms.

• Handles & Attachments
  Learn how to create and attach handles, spouts, feet, and decorative elements successfully.

• Drying Clay Without Cracks
  Practical ways to slow dry work evenly and reduce warping and cracking.

• Underglaze & Surface Decoration
  Layering colour, brush techniques, carving combinations, and decorative finishes.

• Trimming Wheel Thrown Pieces
  Improve foot rings, balance, proportions, and finishing techniques.

• Glazing Basics
  Understanding glaze application, food safety, and common glazing methods.

• Making Large Slab Built Vessels
  Building larger statement forms using templates, supports, and joining methods.

• Texture & Mark Making in Clay
  Exploring carving, stamping, layering, and creating tactile ceramic surfaces.

• Firing & Kiln Basics
  An introduction to bisque firing, glaze firing, temperatures, and kiln preparation.

• Common Pottery Mistakes & Troubleshooting
  Solutions for cracking, S-cracks, warping, joins failing, and glaze faults.

• Porcelain Tips & Techniques
  Working with porcelain clay bodies, drying considerations, and handling finer forms.

Follow along on social media for pottery tips, techniques, behind-the-scenes studio processes, and creative inspiration for all skill levels, along with insights into how I create my own ceramic work.