If you have every dabbled in the art of pottery, then you know it is a S.L.O.W. art. There are many stages of pottery that let a lump of clay become your favorite coffee mug!

Step 1: wet clay to desired form

The clay is wedged (a type of kneading to prepare the clay) and then thrown on the pottery wheel to create the shape of a mug, bowl, vase, etc.

Step 2: trimming the foot

The piece is allowed to dry slightly and then turned onto its top on the potters wheel. Special trimming tools are used to carve a foot ring into the bottom of the pot to create a solid foundation.

Step 3: add ons and drying

At this point, any handles or other sculptural pieced are made by hand and attached to the pot. The piece is then allowed ample time (days-1 week) to dry slowly to avoid cracking or other issues.

Step 4: bisque firing

the fragile, dry pots go into the kiln now for their first firing. They will be cooked at around 1950°F for 10-11 hours.

Step 5: glazing and final firing

The pieces are take out of the kiln, washed of any dust or debris so that the glazes adhere correctly. They are either painted with 3 coats of a brush on glaze or dipped once into a bucket of dipping glaze. The bottoms of the pots are meticulously wiped free of any glaze and are loaded into the kiln for the second time. Here they are cooked for around 12 hours in a 2200°F kiln.

And thats all the steps to turn a ball of clay into a finished piece of pottery. These steps take between 2 and 4 weeks to complete :)