Clay Forming Methodes
Wheel Throwing
Using a pottery wheel to make functional (or sculptural) ceramic pieces
Pinch
Using thumb and fingers to press a ball of clay into a hollow form
Slab
Rolling flat pieces of clay, usually with a rolling pin or slab roller
Coil
Rolling clay into long, thin snake-like rolls that can be cut, folded, spiraled and twisted
Extruding
Creating long solid and hollow clay forms with an extruder
Slumping & Draping
Bending a slab of clay on top of or inside of a mold
Modeling / Sculpting
Shaping clay with hands and simple tools; refined with additive and/or subtractive details
Slip Casting
Using liquid clay and molds to create the ceramic forms
Incising
Carving or engraving a design in to clay by cutting or scraping into the surface
Slip Trailing
The processes of drawing onto the surface of a clay with slip using a fine-tipped dispenser
Excising
The process of carving away the background around an image/shape on the surface of the clay to leave a raised relief design
Combing
Making parallel lines on the surface of a pot with a tool such as a serrated rib or comb.
Impressing
Stamping or embossing textures or designs with an object, tool or stamp or scraping into the surface
Fluting
Using a carving tool to remove ribbons of clay leaving a trough-like appearance on the piece.
Piercing
The process of cutting of shapes, letters or designs through the wall of a pot while in the leatherhard state
Faceting
Cutting away broad trips of knife, faceting tool or wire cutter.
Sprigging
Decorating pottery with low relief shapes using forms are usually made separately using a mold and then applied before firing.