# Creating Ceramics with the Slab Technique | Domestika

> A course by Jeremy Bellina · Craft · Beginner
> 21 lessons (3h 55m) · 97% of the 59 student ratings are positive

Sometimes the most beautiful creations are made simple. That’s why potter Jeremy Bellina stands by the slab technique. The method is more about getting in touch with the clay’s behavior, rather than prior experience. Before getting into pottery, Jeremy had a regular 9 to 5 job that he grew tired of. Pottery started as a pastime and eventually became his full-time job. He shares with you his journey from hobbyist to professional and how you can use your intuition to create something truly unique. 

In this online course, Jeremy takes you through the basic understanding of clay behavior and the slab technique. It allows you to develop a variety of shapes without a lot of experience or expensive equipment. Jeremy, and your clay, will guide you through it.

## Who is this online course for?

Anyone interested in pottery and ceramics.

## What is this course's project?

Create a handmade wavy hollow vase.

## Requirements and materials

A clay roller, knives, sponges, and a rubber kidney.

## Content

### Introduction

Hello! I'm Jeremy. Welcome to this Domestika course and thanks for joining me.

In this unit, I will share my journey through the pottery craft and tell you about the influences that have impacted my work.

### The Tools and Clay

In this unit, I will go through the tools and materials you will need to prepare before getting your hands dirty. 

First, I will list the essential tools and type of clay we'll be working with in this course, as well as any extra items you may already have at your disposal that can be repurposed for the course project. Then, we'll dive deeper into the properties of clay so you can gain an understanding of its behavior. Once you feel confident about the theory, I will teach you how to make slip—an essential material for your future projects.

### Initial Project: The Wavy Bowl

In this unit, I will teach you the foundations of the slab technique. To do so, I will walk you through the making of a small wavy bowl shape, step by step. The skills and confidence you will gain in this unit will be beneficial for the course project, which will be a little more challenging.

### Advanced Project: The Hollow Vase

Now that you've gained key skills and built up your confidence, it's time to embrace a more challenging project! The hollow vase starts on the same basis as the wavy bowl. Yet, along the way, it gets a little more challenging. However, don't forget that you can always call it a day once you're happy with your piece. Don't push yourself too far if it's not necessary. That said, do try to reach your full potential!

### Post-production

In this unit, I will tackle two final topics: glazing and reclaiming. Your piece still needs to be glazed and your leftover clay reclaimed, or you will be left with a lot of bone-dry clay.

## Audio and subtitles

**Audio:** English, Spanish, French, id, Italian, Portuguese, ro, Turkish

**Subtitles:** Spanish, English, Portuguese, German, French, Italian, Polish, Dutch, Turkish, ro, id

[Creating Ceramics with the Slab Technique](https://www.domestika.org/en/courses/4513-creating-ceramics-with-the-slab-technique)