Lifestyle
We’ve all daydreamed about having Patrick Swayze guiding our hands on a pottery wheel ever since Ghost hit our screens, right?
But pottery can be a difficult skill to master. So, we are taking it back to basics with air dry clay to get you started. No kiln, wheel or hunky man required. With thanks to Pott’d, here’s everything you need to know…
CLAY COLLECTION
It’s time to get your creative cap on – and Pott’d have given you everything you need to get started.
With an Air Dry Clay Home Pottery Kit including all of your tools, equipment and inspiration, too, you’re prepped and primed.
Beginner friendly, you can design at your own pace or host a pottery get-together with your friends if that’s more your style.
Each kit is proportioned for one to two people. Simply choose which paint kit you would like. And when you’ve run out of clay, you can buy some more from your local craft shop, keeping the rest of the kit for next time.
• Pott’d Air Dry Clay Home Pottery Kit, £39, please visit: getpottd.com
BACK TO BASICS
B efore you start creating, there are a few things that you need to remember, especially if you’re a newbie.
You’ll be a pottery master in no time…
1. You have to first ‘score’ the two surfaces of clay by making criss-cross grooves with a knife tool. This creates a rough surface that helps the clay fuse together.
2. Then, you’ll need to ‘slip’ your surfaces by adding a few drops of water to soften and bond the two pieces together.
3. Blend using a blending tool or with your finger.
• Make sure that your clay is at least 6mm thick.
• Use water and smooth your creation with a sponge.
• Do NOT try to speed up the drying process by using extreme heat. Let the clay dry naturally.
• Your clay creations can take one or two days to dry, depending on size and shape.
• When your masterpiece is bone dry, you’ll need to paint with a base coat before using coloured paints – let these dry for at least 24 hours.
• You can seal your work with gloss varnish for that pro look or if you’re not keen on that idea, leave unvarnished for a rustic and homely feel instead.
TOPTIP: Beforeyou start, graba smallbowl of watertohelp slipyour joints and smoothyour clay together
CREATION CORNER
N ow you know the basics, it’s time to grab your clay and get going. Why not try one of the Pott’d crafts for yourself ?
• For more inspiration, please follow @pottdpeople on Instagram
Difficulty: 2/3
1. Divide the clay into three and make two pinch pots of equal size and one short sausage shape, too.
2. Score and slip the two pinch pots.
