How to Make Earth Clay Pots
- 1). Get your clay. You may be able to find clay in your backyard if you live in a wet area. Look near a pond, on the side where the water runs into the pond or along a creek. Peel back the layer of sod to reveal any clay. Remove chunks of clay from the ground. Skin off the edges of each chunk to remove debris and rocks. Allow the clay to set for 24 hours. It should not be so wet that it is slippery or slimy. Allow it to dry another 24 hours if it is. Clay should feel damp, cool and smooth. If you do not have clay in your backyard, you can buy some at your local craft store.
- 2). Use a spinning wheel to work with the clay. Set the chunk of clay on the wheel and begin to spin it. Push your fingers down into the center and let the wheel spin. As it spins, you will see the center hole widening and becoming deeper. Let it keep spinning and push gently downward, deepening the hole more. Spread your fingers out to the sides and widen the hole all the way around until the sides are 3/4- to 1/2-inch thick.
- 3). Work the bottom of the chunk into a smooth, circular pot shape. Dip your fingers into the small bowl of water to wet them as you work. This makes your fingers slip easily and smooths the clay better. Gently place your palms on the outsides of the pot, cupping them slightly. Rub and smooth the clay, moving in upward then downward motions. When it's formed, gently lift and move the pot to the kiln tray. Smooth out any finger indents from moving the earth clay pot. Perfect the top edge or lip of the pot using your fingertips. After the pot is fully formed, set the tray in a safe place and allow the clay to dry. This allows moisture to escape from the clay and will prevent popping or exploding in the kiln. Bake at 1,700 degrees F for at least three hours. Allow to cool overnight.
- 4). Remove the cooled tray and pot from the kiln. Paint the clay pot using ceramic or pottery paints. Use as many colors as you wish. Make designs or paint it a solid color. Paint both the inside and the outside of your pot, if desired. You may need to apply two coats of paint to get an even coverage, as the clay will be very absorbent.
- 5). Use a paintbrush to apply ceramic or pottery glaze all over the outside and the inside of your pot. Glaze usually paints on a whitish-purple color or a pink color. You will be able to see where you have and have not coated. A generous coating of glaze is needed to seal in the paint. The glaze protects the pottery and also makes it usable and washable. Place the earth clay pot in the kiln one last time. Bake for the amount of time recommended on the glaze label. When your clay pot comes out of the kiln, allow it to cool. It will be shiny, bright, strong and solid.
Source...