Coil Pottery: What Is It and How To Get Started

Are you looking for a new hobby that’s both creative and rewarding? If so, then you should consider Coil Pottery! Coil Pottery is a type of pottery making that uses coils of clay to create unique shapes and patterns. It’s an ancient technique used by cultures around the world to create functional and decorative pieces of pottery. In this post, we’ll discuss what Coil Pottery is, how to get started, and give you some tips for success.

Coil Pottery may seem intimidating initially, but it’s an easy and enjoyable activity. With some basic materials and a bit of imagination, anyone can create beautiful works of art. We’ll give you an overview of the process, explain the materials you’ll need, and give you some helpful tips to get started. So, let’s dive in and discover the wonderful world of Coil Pottery!

What Is Coil Pottery?

Coil pottery is a process that involves building up layers of clay with coils to create a three-dimensional object, such as a vase or bowl. The coils can be made by hand or on a pottery wheel. The clay used is usually clay that has been pre-formed and fired in a kiln. The coils are then joined with water and often smoothed and blended with a wooden rib or wet sponge. To suit any artistic needs, you can make coil pottery in many different shapes and sizes.

Coil Pottery vs. Wheel Thrown Pottery

Coil pottery and “regular” pottery (often referred to as wheel-thrown or slip-cast pottery) differ primarily in the techniques used to create the ceramic objects, which in turn can influence their characteristics and aesthetic qualities. Here’s how they differ:

Method of Creation

Coil pottery and wheel-thrown pottery differ fundamentally in how they are made. Coil pottery is a hand-building technique that involves creating long, snake-like rolls of clay, which are then coiled and stacked to build the walls of the pot. Wheel-thrown pottery, on the other hand, employs a spinning pottery wheel. A lump of clay is placed at the center of the wheel and shaped by the potter’s hands or tools as it spins.

Texture and Appearance

The resulting texture and appearance of these two methods are distinct. Coil pottery often has a rustic, textured feel, especially if the coils are left exposed. This lends each piece an individualistic and organic quality. Wheel-thrown pottery typically has a smoother, more symmetrical finish, although skilled potters can still introduce unique textures and variations.

Structural Integrity

The structural integrity of pots made from these two methods can vary. Wheel-thrown pots usually have the advantage of more uniform walls due to the spinning of the wheel, thus providing better structural strength. On the other hand, coil pots can have varying wall thickness or weak points if not constructed carefully, which may compromise their structural integrity.

Time Investment and Efficiency

When it comes to the time required to create a piece, wheel-thrown pottery often comes out ahead for simpler forms. Once a potter is skilled at the wheel, basic shapes like bowls or vases can be quickly crafted. Coil pottery is inherently more time-consuming due to the manual effort involved in rolling, coiling, and smoothing out the clay.

Individuality vs. Consistency

One of the endearing aspects of coil pottery is its inherent uniqueness. The manual process involved makes it difficult to create two pieces that are exactly alike, making each item a one-of-a-kind creation. Wheel-thrown pottery allows for greater consistency, which can be an advantage when you want to create matching sets of items.

Size and Complexity

Finally, the size and complexity of the pieces you can create differ between the two methods. Coil pottery can be labor-intensive and challenging when it comes to crafting large or complex items. Wheel-thrown pottery is generally more accommodating for a wide range of sizes and complexities, although intricate designs and detailing still require a high level of skill and craftsmanship.

Types of Coil Pottery

There are many different types of coil pottery available today, such as jars, pitchers, plates and bowls, which are just some examples. This variety allows artists to explore their creativity when making their vessels or sculptures without having to limit themselves to one style or type of vessel. With that, it takes practice and skill to craft intricate designs with this method, so it’s important to understand how to use the coils effectively before attempting any intricate details.

Challenges of Coil Pottery

Like most pottery techniques, there are certain challenges with coil pottery, such as drying too quickly or unevenly, which can cause cracking if you do not take proper care during the process. Additionally, uniting the layers together can be difficult, so creating even surfaces over large pieces can be challenging for beginners.

Tips and Ideas

When starting out with coil pottery, it’s important to work on smaller pieces until you understand how coils work together before attempting larger vessels or sculptures. Beginners should also start learning on a pottery wheel rather than by hand, as this will give you more control over your designs and enable you to create more intricate designs faster than working by hand alone. As you become more experienced, you may want to try different techniques, such as joining two pieces together after they have been fired separately or using slip trailing for decoration after firing in the kiln- these additional methods can help add unique touches to your coils piece that differentiate them from other pieces built using only coils from a pottery wheel.

Coil pottery is an engaging and creative form of pottery-making that artists around the world enjoy. So, if you are looking for a fun and rewarding hobby, Coil Pottery is definitely worth checking out!