From Techniques to Mistakes: A Pottery Terms Reference

Decorative Techniques:

Decorative techniques in pottery involve adding visual elements and designs to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the piece. These methods can include painting, glazing, and applying raised patterns or designs. Examples include relief, incising, and slip trailing.

Relief: Adding material to the surface to create a raised design.

Incising: Carving or cutting into the surface to create a design.

Sgraffito: Scratching through a surface layer to reveal a different color or material beneath.

Slip Trailing: Applying a liquid clay mixture (slip) in a raised pattern on the surface.

Under-glazing: Applying colored decoration to pottery before it is glazed.

Surface Techniques:

Surface techniques focus on altering the texture and finish of the pottery's surface to achieve a desired look or feel. This can involve polishing, applying coatings, or altering the surface composition before firing. Examples include burnishing, engobing, and glazing.

Burnishing: Polishing the clay surface with a smooth tool to achieve a shiny finish.

Engobing: Applying a layer of colored slip to the surface before firing.

Glazing: Coating the surface with a glassy layer for decoration and waterproofing.

Texturing Techniques:

Texturing techniques involve creating patterns or textures on the clay's surface by manipulating the material. This can be achieved through pressing, carving, or dragging tools across the surface to add depth and tactile interest. Examples include impressing, stamping, and combing.

Impressing: Pressing objects into the clay to create patterns or textures.

Stamping: Using stamps to imprint designs on the clay surface.

Combing: Dragging a comb-like tool through the clay to create parallel lines or patterns.

Maker's Mistakes

In pottery, "maker's mistakes" are often referred to as "kiln kisses," "glaze skips," "crawling," "crazing," "pinholes," or "cracks." These terms describe various imperfections that can occur during the creation and firing process. Here's a brief description of each:

Kiln Kisses: Small marks or blemishes caused by pieces touching each other in the kiln.

Glaze Skips: Areas where the glaze did not adhere to the pottery, leaving bare spots.

Crawling: A glaze defect where the glaze pulls away from the surface during firing, leaving bare patches.

Crazing: A network of fine cracks in the glaze.

Pinholes: Tiny holes in the glaze surface caused by gases escaping during firing.

Cracks: Actual splits in the clay body, which can occur during drying or firing.

 

The definitions and explanations of pottery terms were provided by ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI, during an interactive session on May 21st, 2024.

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