1. Making Pottery with a Mold:
Easy as pie!

2. What will you do?
Create a small creatively designed container using a mold to determine the form.

3. How to get started Choose a container that will act as a mold.
Think of the separate pieces of clay you will need in order to assemble the form.
Do you want a lid, handles, feet, other figures or pieces that will make your piece unique?

4. Cut the clay into the desired pieces with a cutting tool or a needle tool. Use a piece a piece of paper as a guide

5. Surface Decoration Lay the pieces of clay on a board or canvas.
Make texture marks to decorate the work.
If using a stamp dust the stamp with talc powder.
Decoration can be built up on the surface or carved into the surface

6. Using a mould
Line the inside of the mold with a piece of plastic or paper towel .
Lay your piece of clay texture side down into the container.
You may decide to make this container with separate pieces such as a base and four separate sides to make a box.

7. Attaching two pieces of clay:
Score the edges (cross hatch) with a needle or a fork where the pieces of clay will be connected.
Attach the pieces of clay together by using slip (watery clay mixture).
Blend both pieces of clay together to form a strong bond

8. Score and attach using slip

9. Always make sure the two pieces of clay are well attached

10. Removing the clay from the mould
The clay can be left in a bag for one or two days to dry slightly
This clay is now “leather hard” and stiff enough to stand on its own
The clay must be removed from the mold at this point otherwise your clay may dry and shrink causing it to crack!

11. Finishing Touches
Sign bottom of the piece with your name using sharp pencil.
smooth the edges of the work with a moist sponge
Do not handle the clay project when it is dry. FRAGILE
Let dry completely before firing

12. Making Pottery with a Mold
One of the best ways to work with clay