Guide

Learn how to sharpen suitable ceramic tools, maintain their cutting edges and care for different tool materials. With the right techniques and regular maintenance, you can help keep your tools in good condition and extend their useful life. This guide is based on In the Studio: Not the Sharpest Tool in the Box by Michael Sherrill, owner of Mudtools, published in the September/October 2015 issue of Pottery Making Illustrated.

Hand-building is a flexible ceramic technique where you shape clay without using a potter’s wheel. It is perfect for sculptures, organic forms, and larger objects – from hobby projects to advanced works of art.

Casting slip, also known as slip, is a liquid clay used together with plaster molds. This technique produces thin, even, and reproducible objects and is ideal for batch production and detailed forms.

The right tools make a big difference in ceramics. Whether you are wheel throwing, hand-building, or decorating, your tools affect both the process and the final result. You don’t need everything from the start—but having the right basic tools makes the work easier.

This guide helps you quickly find the right glaze and provides tips for success—whether you’re a beginner or an experienced ceramicist.

Applying glaze correctly is essential for the final result. This guide covers different application methods.

In this guide, we explain the difference between stoneware and earthenware, what throwing clay, sculpting clay, and casting slip are, and what you should know about grog and other clay properties.

Not all glazes are suitable for ceramics used with food and drink. Learn how to interpret glaze labels and what to consider when choosing a glaze and creating finished ceramic ware that is suitable for food and drink.

Bubbles in the glaze? Glaze that cracks, flakes off, or turns the wrong color? Here we go through the most common glaze problems and how to avoid them.

By choosing the right type of paint, you can create everything from detailed illustrations to natural clay effects or vibrant glazes. When decorating ceramics, there are several types of colors to choose from. The three most common are underglaze, Engobes, and Stroke & Coat. Here we explain the differences between them and when to use each one.