Pottery Making Plates from Scratch

Making pottery plates from scratch can be a fun and rewarding experience. It requires patience, creativity, and a basic understanding of the pottery-making process.

You'll need a few essential tools, such as a pottery wheel, a kiln, and a variety of clay bodies to work with. A pottery wheel is a great investment for beginners, as it allows for symmetrical and uniform pieces.

To start, you'll need to prepare your clay by wedging it to remove any air pockets and make it more pliable. This step is crucial in preventing cracks and imperfections in your final piece.

A good starting point for beginners is to create a simple plate design, using a symmetrical shape and minimal decoration. This will allow you to focus on mastering the basics of pottery-making before moving on to more complex designs.

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To start making a slab plate, you'll need to prepare the clay. Slice off around 3 lbs of clay from your block, and if you're using recycled scraps, you'll need to wedge the clay to remove air pockets.

Wedge the clay to remove any air bubbles, and then shape it into a circular disk. This will help when rolling out the clay and prevent a misshapen slab.

If your clay is a wonky shape, it's best to shape it into a circular disk before rolling it out, as this will result in a more even slab.

To make a slab plate, start by preparing a slab of clay. You'll need to slice off around 3 lbs of clay from your block and pat it into a circular disk shape.

If you're using recycled scraps of clay, you'll need to wedge it to remove any air pockets. This will ensure a smooth and even slab. Wedging is especially important if you're using scraps from another project.

To cut out the plate shape, place a template on top of the clay slab and cut around it using a clay knife or a regular dinner knife. You can use a circular template for a traditional shape or get creative with free-hand shapes.

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If you're using a template, make sure it's stiff enough to hold its shape, like a silver-colored cardboard cake board. This will make cutting out the slab easier. You can also use a press mold to create a plate with a specific shape.

To use a press mold, place the slab on a piece of foam and press the mold down onto the clay. Hold the pressure for about 10 seconds before releasing. This will help the clay retain the shape of the mold.

You can use air-dry clay for decorative slab plates, but they'll be fragile and best hung on the wall.

Air-dry clay is a great option if you're making plates for display only.

Pottery clay, on the other hand, is necessary if you want to use your plates as dinnerware.

Earthenware, stoneware, or porcelain clay can be used for making slab plates.

It's worth noting that pottery clay requires firing in a kiln to be durable.

You can find a local pottery firing service to fire your pieces, making it easy to get started.

Here's an interesting read: How to Paint Ceramic Plates

To shape and roll your clay, start by flattening it with the heel of your hand on a work surface covered with canvas fabric. This will prevent the clay from sticking to the table. Flattening the clay first makes it easier to roll out.

You'll need rolling sticks, also known as roller guides, to help you achieve a smooth, even slab. These can be lengths of wood, dowel, or wooden strips, or even special roller guides that fit onto the end of your rolling pin. Choose a nice wide rolling pin and roll the clay in one direction a few times before turning it over and changing its orientation.

Some tips to keep in mind when rolling your clay include piercing any air bubbles that appear on the surface with a needle tool or cocktail stick, and being careful not to trap wrinkled fabric beneath the slab as you roll. It's also a good idea to roll your slab onto a piece of fabric that has been stretched over and pinned to a wooden board.

Shaping is a crucial step in creating beautiful and functional pieces of pottery. You can shape your clay slab into various forms, but it's best to keep the shape reasonably simple, especially if you're a beginner.

To flatten your clay, press it onto your work surface with the heel of your hand. This will make it easier to roll out later. It's also a good idea to put a section of canvas fabric on your work surface to prevent the clay from sticking.

As you shape your clay, you can add texture to the slab to create interesting designs. You can use a textured rubber mat or other tools to add patterns and details.

To shape your clay into a plate, you can use a hump mold or a press mold. With a hump mold, you'll need to carefully line up the mold on top of the slab and press it down to create the shape. With a press mold, you'll need to place the slab on a piece of foam and press the mold down onto the slab.

Here are some tips for shaping your clay:

Some common shapes for slab plates include crescent, heart, and simple circular shapes. These shapes are easy to create and can be decorated with a variety of techniques.

Leather hard clay is a crucial stage in the pottery-making process.

You'll know your clay has reached this stage when it's soft and can be bent slightly without losing shape.

It's essential to let the clay dry out to be soft leather hard rather than stiff leather hard to prevent warping.

Warping is a common issue with slab plates, which can bend and curve as they dry out.

To prevent warping, place a bag of rice or sand on the center of the plate, which will help keep it flat.

This rice bag can be made by gathering an old T-shirt, cutting out a section of smooth fabric, and piling rice or sand onto the middle.

Gather the edges of the fabric together and tie them with an elastic band.

Place a piece of saran wrap or a smooth plastic bag on the center of the plate, and then the rice bag on top, to prevent the rice and fabric from drawing water out of the clay.

At this stage, you can tidy up and smooth out the rim of the plate, which will have a square-shaped edge from the knife used to cut out the slab.

It's best to round off the edges using a clay shredder or surform to prevent chipping and breaking.

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Adding a Rim to Your Plate is a crucial step in creating a beautiful and functional piece of pottery. You can use your fingers and thumbs to gently bend the clay on the side of the slab upwards, curling the edge into a nice rim.

To achieve a smooth rim, you can support the edges of the plate with foam hair rollers, which are bendy, non-absorbent, and inexpensive to buy. They're perfect for supporting clay as it dries to leather hard.

Adding texture to your slab plate can be done using a texturizing mat, which can be bought from a pottery supplier or made yourself. Alternatively, you can use a pony roller to press the mat into the clay, ensuring that all the texture is transferred to the plate.

Tidying up the rim and foot ring is a crucial step in creating a professional-looking plate. The goal is to create a smooth, even rim and a flat, level foot.

To start, you'll need to check that the rim is even. Sometimes one section of the rim will be a little bigger than another. To even out the size of the rim, find the narrowest part of the rim and use a large compass to set the width of the draftsman's compass to that measurement.

Using the compass as a guide, make a small mark in the clay around the plate to create a guideline. Then, use a shredder to shave back some of the rim, following the guideline you've created. This will help you achieve an even size all the way around the plate.

After shredding the rim, use a notched rib to smooth out the surface, followed by a damp chamois leather to remove any remaining texture. This will leave you with a smooth, even rim.

Now, let's move on to tidying up the foot ring. The first thing to do is to make sure the foot is flat and level. To do this, run a shredder all the way around the foot to get rid of any bumps and high spots.

Check that the foot is level by placing the plate on a flat surface, foot down, and checking that it doesn't wobble. Once you're happy that it's flat and level, smooth down the edges of the foot ring using a chamois leather and your fingers.

Here's a quick checklist to help you remember the steps to tidy up the rim and foot ring:

By following these steps, you'll be able to create a professional-looking plate with a smooth, even rim and a flat, level foot.

Adding a rim and texture to your slab pottery can be a fun and creative process. You can use a texturizing mat, either store-bought or homemade, to add a unique design to your clay slab.

A texturizing mat is a great tool to have in your pottery arsenal. You can buy them from a pottery supplier or even repurpose them from cake decoration.

Making your own clay texture mats is also an option. If you're interested in learning how to make one, check out a step-by-step guide.

Once you've added your texture, use a pony roller to press it into the clay. This will ensure that the design is evenly distributed.

The type of texture you add will depend on the look you're going for. If you want a truly unique design, consider using cling stamps from your scrapbooking supplies. They work fabulously on clay, especially without a hard backing.

Keep in mind that if you're making plates for eating, it's best to only stamp on the rims and not the center area. This will make cleanup easier.

To avoid warping, dry slab plates slowly and evenly. This can be achieved by covering the plate loosely with a plastic bag and keeping it in a cool room out of direct sunlight.

It's essential to dry slab plates slowly to prevent warping, even if they don't appear warped when bone dry. Uneven drying can cause warping when fired.

After drying, transfer the plate onto a metal grid to allow air to circulate evenly, promoting even drying.

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To avoid warping, dry your slab plates slowly and evenly. Warping can occur even if the plate looks fine when bone dry, as uneven drying can cause it to warp when fired.

Use a rice bag weight to slow down the drying process, and keep the plate in a cool room out of direct sunlight. Covering the plate with a plastic bag will also help retain moisture.

After a couple of days, remove the rice bag weight and transfer the plate to a metal grid to allow air to circulate evenly. This will help the plate dry more evenly.

Once the plate is bone dry, it's ready to be bisque fired.

Slab plates are a great canvas for decoration, and underglaze designs can create a completely different look. Applying a clear glaze on top can really make the design pop.

You can achieve a range of colors and effects with different underglaze transfers. For example, underglaze transfers were used to create the design on this plate.

Broaden your view: Different Types of Clay for Pottery

Using the same glaze can still result in different colors, depending on the clay body. A Rutile glaze, for instance, can produce a purple-hue on M370 clay body, but a turquoise hue on M340 clay body.

Applying a clear glaze on top can also affect the color and clarity of the design. This is especially true if the underglaze design is intricate or detailed.

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Decorating and finishing your pottery plates is the fun part! You can add a foot ring to your plate, but I left mine footless to keep things simple.

To trim your plate, use a knife tool to make adjustments or add designs with a needle tool. If you're making a thrown plate, you'll need to trim some of the weight off the bottom by putting it back on the wheel.

There are a few ways to decorate your plate. You can use food-safe paint and add a design, or you can use ceramic underglaze transfers. Make sure to wipe down your plates with rubbing alcohol before painting to ensure a smooth finish.

Here are the basic steps for decorating a plate with paint:

After decorating and firing your plate, it's ready to be glazed and fired again. Typically, kilns heat to 1,700 °F (930 °C) or even higher, depending on the clay and glaze.

Decorating a White Plate is a great way to add some personality to your table setting. You can find food-safe paint online, but make sure it's not toxic before you buy it.

To start, you'll want to wipe down your clean plates with rubbing alcohol to remove any oils and fingerprints that might affect how the paint adheres. This is an important step, as it will ensure a smooth finish.

Now it's time to get creative! Use a paint marker to draw a simple design like triangles or dots, or try adding a cute seasonal message with a thin paintbrush. The possibilities are endless.

Some paints may require you to let them dry overnight, so be sure to check the instructions. This will give the paint time to set before you bake it in the oven.

Here are some general guidelines for baking your plates: typically, you'll bake them for 30 minutes to an hour at a temperature between 325 and 375 °F (163 and 191 °C). Always read the paint's directions carefully to ensure you're following the right steps.

Finishing Touches are a crucial part of the ceramics process, and they can make or break the overall look of your piece.

To add a foot ring to your plate, you can follow the same steps I used earlier. However, if you're like me and prefer a footless plate, you can simply round and smooth the rim using a combination of a shredder, a notched rib, and a chamois leather.

Trimming your plate is an essential step, especially if you're making a thrown plate. You'll need to trim some of the weight off the bottom by putting it back on the wheel. On the other hand, if you're making a slab plate, you can simply use a knife tool to make adjustments or add designs with a needle tool.

Here are the general steps to follow for finishing your plate:

Make sure to leave the bottom unglazed so the plate can rest on a shelf without getting stuck. You'll also want to check your clay to see how hot you should heat it and set your kiln to heat that high. Typically, kilns heat to 1,700 °F (930 °C) or even higher.

If you want to add a professional touch to your handmade pottery, consider using ceramic underglaze transfers. These transfers are a great way to add intricate designs and patterns to your ceramics.

To use ceramic underglaze transfers, you'll need to apply them to your pottery before applying a clear glaze. This will ensure the design adheres well to the ceramic surface.

Ceramic underglaze transfers can be applied using a brush or a sponge, and it's best to follow the manufacturer's instructions for the specific transfer product you're using.

Making slab plates is a straightforward process, and one way to do it is by using a press mold. This method is great because it allows you to reuse a mold that you've already made.

To make a slab plate with a press mold, you'll first need to prepare your slab, which can be done by leaving it smooth or adding texture using a textured rubber mat.

You can place your slab on a piece of foam, such as upholstery foam, to add some resistance when pressing on it.

The hump mold technique is a great way to shape a slab of clay into a plate. This method involves draping the clay slab over a mold, known as a hump mold or drape mold.

To use a hump mold, it's essential to have a movable piece of fabric under the slab, allowing you to easily pick it up and turn it over. This is especially useful when working with a hump mold.

Line up the mold carefully in the center of the textured slab, ensuring it's centered and even. Then, slide your hand under the fabric and place your other hand on top of the mold to hold it firmly in place.

To shape the clay around the mold, gently press the slab with your hands, allowing it to drape freely over the mold. It's also helpful to place the mold on a banding wheel, using a glaze container or similar object to support it.

After shaping the clay, smooth the base with a rubber rib to create a smooth surface. Leave the slab on the mold to firm up for a few hours before proceeding with further steps.

Working with different clay bodies can greatly affect the final appearance of your glazes. The same glaze can look dramatically different on different clay bodies, as seen in the example of the Rutile glaze used on M370 and M340 clay bodies, resulting in a purple-hue and turquoise hue respectively.

Using underglaze transfers can create a completely different look for your slab plates. Applying a clear glaze on top can also enhance the design and give it a glossy finish.

The thickness of the glaze may not be the only factor in achieving consistency in your glazes. Different clay bodies can react differently to the same glaze, as demonstrated by the two plates made with the same glaze but on different clay bodies.

A clear glaze can be used to enhance the design of your slab plates, making them look more intricate and detailed. This is especially true when using underglaze transfers, as seen in the example of the plate decorated with underglaze transfers and a clear glaze on top.

For your interest: How to Glaze a Ceramic Pot

I discovered the awesome social media accounts of Clayshare.com, founded and operated by ceramic artist Jessica Putnam-Phillips, which offers a spectrum of ceramic tutorials for every skill level.

Jessica's positivity and love for ceramics are contagious, and her live tutorials, like "Clay Con", can be super engaging and motivating.

For making stamped clay plates, you can use cling stamps from your scrapbooking supplies, which work fabulously without a hard backing.

Using a nice wide rolling pin and rolling the clay in one direction a few times helps to avoid continually stretching the slab in one direction and putting the clay under stress.

If air bubbles appear on the surface of the clay, pierce the blister with a needle tool or a cocktail stick and press either side of the blister gently to squeeze out air from the clay.

Rolling on a loose piece of fabric can cause it to go baggy and wrinkled, so be sure to roll your slab onto a piece of fabric that has been stretched over and pinned to a wooden board.

Simple shapes like crescent or heart shapes are easier to work with and less prone to errors when turning up the edges of the plate.

Supporting the plate is crucial to achieve the desired shape and structure. You can use foam hair rollers to support the sides of the plate while it dries.

Don't panic if the sides sag a bit when you lift the plate off the foam. It may be a desirable look, but if you want to keep the sides standing up proud, you can use support.

Foam hair rollers are a great tool for this purpose. Simply place them around the edge of the plate.

Leaving the plate to dry with support will help it retain its shape. A good tip is to cover the plate with saran wrap and place a rice bag on top.