How to Make a Clay Pottery Pitcher

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Making pottery pitchers with clay is a fun and creative art project that can be done with a potter's wheel and a few basic tools. Learn how to make a clay pottery pitcher in this free pottery lesson video from a ceramics artist and sculptor.

There are 16 videos in this series:

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1.

Pottery Pitcher: Attaching Clay
Make sure potter's wheel is clean before attaching clay. Learn how to attach clay to a potter's wheel when a throwing a clay pitcher in this free pottery lesson from ceramics expert.

Views: 245
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2.

Pottery Pitcher: Attaching Handle
When attaching clay pitcher handle, be sure to mark best location ahead of time. Learn how to attach the handle to a clay pitcher in this free pottery lesson from ceramics expert.

Views: 239
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3.

Pottery Pitcher: Centering Clay
When centering clay, make sure hands are wet to make shaping easier. Learn how to center clay on a potter's wheel for a throwing a clay pitcher in this free pottery lesson from ceramics expert.

Views: 253
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4.

Pottery Pitcher: Drying the Cylinder
Remove extra water when drying a clay pot. Learn how to dry the cylinder when throwing a clay pitcher in this free pottery lesson from ceramics expert.

Views: 235
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5.

Pottery Pitcher: Entering & Opening the Form
Flatten top of clay form before shaping it for pottery. Learn how to open a cylindrical form when throwing a clay pitcher in this free pottery lesson from ceramics expert.

Views: 250
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6.

Pottery Pitcher: Finishing Up on the Wheel
Remove water from clay pitcher when finished attaching handle. Learn the finishing touches for throwing a clay pitcher in this free pottery lesson from ceramics expert.

Views: 252
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7.

Pottery Pitcher: Firing the Cylinder
Add design to a clay pitcher before firing it. Learn how to prepare a clay pitcher for firing in this free pottery lesson from ceramics expert.

Views: 234
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8.

Pottery Pitcher: Mixing Slip
Clay potters use a process called slipping and scoring to attach handles. Learn how to mix the slip for attaching the handle to a clay pitcher in this free pottery lesson from ceramics expert.

Views: 231
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9.

Pottery Pitcher: Necessary Tools
For throwing a pottery pitcher, use pin tool for shaping. Learn the tools for a throwing a clay pitcher in this free pottery lesson from ceramics expert.

Views: 241
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10.

Pottery Pitcher: Pulling the Handle
When pulling a clay pitcher handle, keep uniform pressure during the entire process. Learn how to pull the handle when throwing a clay pitcher in this free pottery lesson from ceramics expert.

Views: 238
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11.

Pottery Pitcher: Pulling Up Walls
When shaping clay, use wet sponge to hold outside wall. Learn how to pull up the walls when throwing a clay pitcher in this free pottery lesson from ceramics expert.

Views: 236
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12.

Pottery Pitcher: Shaping a Cylinder
Make lip in clay pitcher during shaping process. Learn how to shape the top part of the cylinder when throwing a clay pitcher in this free pottery lesson from ceramics expert.

Views: 245
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13.

Pottery Pitcher: Shaping the Snout
Before shaping clay spout, smooth out the top of the cylinder. Learn how to smooth out the snout when throwing a clay pitcher in this free pottery lesson from ceramics expert.

Views: 243
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14.

Pottery Pitcher: Throwing a Cylinder
Get rid of excess clay before throwing a shape. Learn how to shape the cylinder when throwing a clay pitcher in this free pottery lesson from ceramics expert.

Views: 247
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15.

Pottery Pitcher: Trimming Pitcher on the Wheel
Use pottery trimming tools when working with a pot that is still on the potter's wheel. Learn how to trim the cylinder while it is on the potter's wheel when throwing a clay pitcher in this free pottery lesson from ceramics expert.

Views: 251
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16.

Pottery Pitcher: Wedging Clay
To wedge clay for a pottery pitcher, get all the air out of it. Learn how to wedge clay for a throwing a clay pitcher in this free pottery lesson from ceramics expert.

Views: 234
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Views: 3,822 Videos in Series: 16

Tags: art, arts, crafts, clay, ceramics, pottery

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Summary: Making pottery is the art of creating earthenware vessels from clay. The process involves shaping a vessel, by hand or with tools, and cooking it in a kiln. Mankind has been making pottery since the times we first learned about fire. Ancient civilizations used pottery for all sorts of things, from storing oil, wine, and other foodstuffs, to holding papyrus scrolls, the organs of dead god-kings, perfumes, and various religious offerings. Because pottery is durable and lasts long after its creator is gone, it has helped us to learn about entire groups of people that we might have otherwise never known; these hand-crafted objects tell stories, not only from their complex structural designs, but also the carefully wrought stories painted on their surfaces, a sort of iconography of a time and place in history.

In this series of pottery lesson videos, a ceramics expert will demonstrate how to throw a clay pottery pitcher. He will explain each step of the process, from shaping the clay for the pitcher to pulling the handle to preparing the handle to be attached to the pitcher. Watch this series and become a better potter.

About the Expert

Expert: Max Koetter is a multi-talented artist currently living in America. He grew up in London, England where he learned how to use the ceramic wheel at an early age. Koetter received a scholarship to study ceramics at Syracuse University and moved to the U.S in 1992. He graduated with honors in 1996 with a master's degree in fine art. Soon after graduation, he moved to Los Angeles to make a film. His first film is a documentary, "Rubber Tramps," which examines people who throw off the conventional comforts of the American Dream and choose a alternative mobile lifestyle, making their homes along the West Coast in old converted buses and vans. Counter culture icon Ken Kesey narrates the film and offers insight in to origins of American road culture and its place in society today. The film received great reviews including three and half stars from "Rolling Stone Magazine." "Rubber Tramps" can be purchased at RubberTramps.com. Koetter is also an accomplished guitar player.