What you need to know.
To complete one ceramic piece, it takes a series of steps that takes up to 2 weeks. When making multiple items, you can imagine the process will take much longer. And it’s definitely not as easy as it looks on those satisfying wheel-throwing videos you see on Instagram.
The Process
Forming
Whether throwing on the wheel or hand-building — this is how the item is mostly formed.
Trimming + Details
Once the clay body is at a certain level of dryness, they become structurally sound enough to trim and add handles and other design elements.
Drying
This part is important. Not to be taken lightly. If pieces are not fully dried before the next step, casualties aka explosions will occur.
Fire to Cone 05
This is the first firing. The pieces are taken up to
Glazing
This is where the color and sealant is applied to the piece. You may dip or brush on the glaze.
Glaze Fire
This is the final firing where the applied glaze becomes a thin layer of glass / sealant over the clay. For items that are not glazed, they must still be fired at this temperature to ensure vitrification or the point of which it is fully cured.