Clay Pot Projects

Craft Ideas, How to Make a Vase

Of all the clay pot projects I'll show you, the vase is one of the simplest yet most versatile. Vases can be tiny (see mini pots) or they can be huge (see ceramic floor vases).

Depending on the size, they can be fairly easy or extremely difficult to throw. We'll start with a fairly easy small vase.

Practice it a few times. Then, I'd encourage you to expand your skills and try some tiny ones and work up to some big ones.

Shaping a Vase

To make a vase you're going to start with a basic cylinder. There are two simple steps to transforming the cylinder into a vase.

First, push out the lower half of the wall to form a rounded bottom on the vase. Then, squeeze in the neck to give it an elegant curvature.

The vase on the left is an example of a simple vase with a little bit of alteration. As you can see the rim has been altered by hand to add some character to it.

This can be done by simply pulling out on the rim with one finger, while you support the rim on both sides with the fingers of your other hand. Then slowly work your way around the pot.

Tips:
1) To push out the bottom, be sure the walls are wet so your fingers don't stick. Push very gently from the inside while supporting the pot from the outside. (Remember, a little pressure goes a long way.)

2) To squeeze in the neck, use your first finger and thumbs to create four points of contact. You can even use the knuckle of the your second finger to make six points of contact on the neck of the vase.

Wet the pot first. Then gently squeeze in on the neck, about 2/3 of the way up the pot. Again, a little pressure goes a long way.

3) Finally, to finish it off, you can flare out the rim a little. Be careful not to fuss with the pot too much after you've shaped it. Once it has been shaped it will be much more delicate than when it was a straight cylinder.

The differences between various types of vases just depends on the height of each vase, as well as the ratios between the neck, the rim, and the rounded bottom.

When you are finished, dry your pot completely, then learn about firing pottery and finally, learn more about decorating and finishing your crafts with pottery glazes.

Finally, here is some really helpful information on pottery supplies you'll need to make pottery.

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