13 Pottery Decorating Techniques and Tips

How do you make an amazing pot instead of just a ‘good’ pot? Maybe a new pottery decorating technique or tip will help!

Below you will find some amazing tips and techniques that some of the top pottery bloggers posted in the past year. Including carving, resists, glazing, slip and more.

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Don’t forget, you can also find some great stuff in the articles 12 Tips for Making Pots or 23 Pottery Tips or you can see a complete introduction to making pottery.

1. Underglaze and Carved Lines

A multi-step process that yields outstanding results.

Michèle Hastings uses this technique to create a Whimsical Flower Pig.

Cindy Gilliland of DirtKicker Pottery has a short demonstration video.

Paige Puckett has some great images to walk you through the process of using underglaze to fill in impressions in clay.

2. Masking Tape Stickers

You can use a lot of things as a resist to keep glaze from part of a pot. FetishGhost uses good ol’ masking tape!

3. Mixing Glaze and Mason Stains

Big Ceramic Store explains how to mix mason stains and glaze to get some great effects.

4. Getting Started with Decals

Have you ever wanted to try ceramic decals? Page gives a good explanation to help you get started.

Unfortunately, Page had to take this post down. You can find out why here. You can also donate here to help with legal fees as she fights to make things right.

5. Introduction to the Mishima Technique

You can view a great video about the Mishima technique at Bridges Pottery.

Gary Jackson shares a similar technique but uses wax resist and wipes off the extra slip.

6. Spraying Glazes

Carol offers some tips about spraying glazes and the equipment that she uses.

7. Colored Slip Decoration

Gary has some great images and explanations of some of the ways that he applies colored slip to decorate his pots.

8. Tint Slip with Food Coloring

Speaking of colored slips… Gary has a great tip to help your slip decorating be more efficient.

9. How to Avoid Crazing

Hamish shares some great information and research about crazing: Why it can be bad, how it happens and how to avoid it.

10. Using Shellac Resist

Did you know you can use shellac when making pottery? It makes a great resist!

http://lucyfagella.com/using-shellac-resist-on-pottery/

11. Glazing Tips

Dominic shares some glazing tips and a few video demonstrations.

Glazing, the elephant in the room

12. Carving a Ginkgo Leaf Bowl

Michèle explains her process and shows some great images of carving a ginkgo leaf pattern into a large bowl. (Click her images to zoom in!)

13. Inspiring Slip Trailing Videos

If you didn’t catch it earlier, check out 7 Superb Slip Trailing Videos here at the Pottery Making Blog to help inspire you or improve your technique.

14. (Bonus!) Glaze Recipes and More

There was a good variety of recipes from the pottery blogs in the past year.

Cone 5 Amber

Link: http://fetishghost.blogspot.com/2016/08/cone-5-amber-glaze.html

Black Wash

Link: http://fetishghost.blogspot.com/2016/09/5050-wash.html

Cone 6: Gawk’s Clear, Opaque White

Link: https://www.marthagrover.com/s/Technical-Information-for-Workshops-Cone-6-5m5h.pdf

(From Martha Grover via Carol Clarkson)

Basic White Slip Recipe

Link: http://www.carolclarksonpottery.com/blog/2016/10/30/Basic-White-Slip-Recipe.aspx

Cone 10 R: Fake Mashiko

Link: http://johnbrittpottery.blogspot.com/2016/11/mashiko-plates.html

Cone 6: Kate Younger Clear

Link: http://www.carolclarksonpottery.com/blog/2016/11/13/Kate-Younger-Clear-Glaze-Recipe.aspx

Cone 6: Revised Water Blue

Link: http://www.carolclarksonpottery.com/blog/2017/03/11/Revised-Water-Blue-cone-6-Recipe.aspx

Cone 04: Deb’s Clear Base

Link: http://www.carolclarksonpottery.com/blog/2017/02/22/Cone-04-Clear-Glaze-Debs-Clear-Base.aspx

Cone 05: Francis Frosting

Link: http://johnbrittpottery.blogspot.com/2017/04/francis-frosting-cone-05.html

Simple Kiln Wash

Link: http://finemessblog.blogspot.com/2016/12/sunday-basics.html

15. (Double Bonus!!) Pottery Decorating in Style

Did you know that you can find a great collection of unique pottery shirts in the shop? Not only will you look as good as your pots, you will also help support this site!

Thanks

Thanks for reading! And thanks to all the pottery bloggers that share so much great information.