Materials to Do Pottery at Home

Pottery maker Paula Casella Biase tells us which tools and basic materials to use to create ceramic pieces at home

Paula Casella Biase (@paulacasellabiase) is an Argentinian potter based in Spain and has almost twenty years’ experience as a teacher, mural artist, and pottery designer. In her Bambucito workshop, she creates artisanal crockery in unique designs.

If you ever wanted to start out in ceramics, she is sharing some of the materials you need to have a go at this craft and create objects to air dry or fire in the kiln.

Household materials

Although many materials are specially designed for ceramics, you can substitute them with things you have at home.

For instance, you can use a regular knitting needle instead of a professional potter’s needle. So, if you don’t have a specific tool, look around your home for something with a similar function.

Where to buy the materials

- Dollar stores and arts and crafts fairs sell many of these materials.

- Shops and pottery workshops also keep a variety of tools and materials in stock.
Remember that if you choose to fire your pottery, you will need to take your pieces to a workshop and use their kiln. Find out what is available in your area.

- Some materials are available in art and stationery shops: look for plasticine and sculpture materials.

- Many online shops sell basic toolkits for beginners.

Clay

As a general rule, baking clay is divided into low temperature (between 950ºC and 1100ºC) and high temperature (1200ºC to1280ºC). Each one comes in a variety of textures and colors. Ask for advice in the shop where you’ll be buying it to find out more about each type.

You can also do ceramics with air drying clay. It comes in packs from one to 10 kilos, a popular choice being the Plus brand.

Finally, you can work with low-temperature white clay (ceramic).

Tools

- Sticks. Tools for modeling: can be metal, wooden, or plastic.

- Potter’s Needle. You can use regular knitting needles. Made of metal with a fine tip, used to prick the clay.

- Paintbrushes. Used for applying glaze to the clay. They tend to damage with use. You don’t need specialist brushes for ceramics, and you can even use a decorating brush.

- Cutting wire. Used to cut through the clay, especially a larger block.

- Potter’s knife. A utility knife can substitute it. Used to make delicate cuts on the clay.

- Modeling tools. Used to make adjustments in bowls.

- Rib. Used to smooth the clay and remove imperfections.

- Bowls. To mix water and clay.

- Face mask. This is optional, but useful when applying varnishes or, when sanding, if you have a dust allergy.

- Rolling pin. You can use one from your kitchen, to level the clay.

- Wooden sticks. Used to measure the thickness of the clay, they are about 5mm thick.

- Materials to create textures. You can use mesh, leaves, fabric, canvas, etc.

- PVC fabric. To protect your worktops, when leveling the clay with the rolling pin.

- Plaster. If you wish to make molds, you will need this. You can buy this in packs of 5 to 25 kilos.

Decorating materials

- Acrílics. For coloring the pieces.

- Glazes. For sealing and giving shine to the objects. There are high and low-temperature glazes available. You will have to take the piece to a kiln once it is glazed.

If you want to start working on your first ceramic piece, sign up to Paula’s course Ceramics at Home for Beginners.

You may also be interested in:

- 10 Ceramic Artists That Will Inspire You.
- How to Present Your Craft Projects in a Portfolio and on Social Media.
-Concrete Furniture Creation for Beginners, a course by EN·CONCRETO.