Quick Guide to Ceramics and the

PINCH POT
Ceramics Class
with Mrs. Jacobson

http://www.osartistsco-op.com/pixhow/pinch03.jpg
Why start with Learning Pinch
pot?

Producing pinch pots is the most direct method

people have of interacting with clay.
We push, and the clay responds. We pinch, and
again the clay responds.
We can learn a huge amount simply through the
experience of directly modifying the clay's
form.
It is a great way to introduce a person to clay.
Why start with Learning Pinch pot?

Pinching clay can teach us tactile sensitivity.

Through this process, we more easily learn to
rely on our fingers to tell us information about
the clay.
We can develop a kinetic awareness of form and
of the thickness of walls and floors.
This tactile awareness will enhance our pottery
skills across the board.
What is a Pinch Pot?

The pinch pot is one of the oldest human methods of hand building.
Simple clay vessels such as bowls and cups can be shaped by
hand using the pinch pot processes.
Although there are exceptions, most pinched pottery is less than six
inches in diameter.
 Pinch pots can range from chunky, substantial pieces
to very thin-walled and delicate pieces.
Pinch pot vessels can be decorated in many ways, but
there does seem to be an added affinity between
pinch pots and burnishing, a method to bring a gloss
to unglazed pieces
The Physics of Pinch Pots

Do you remember the adage from physics that goes

"an action will produce an equal and opposite
reaction"?
In working with clay, this means that the clay will
move away from pressure.
The Physics of Pinch Pots

How the pressure is applied directly affects how the

clay responds to it.
After opening the clay, the tip of the thumb is used
on the lower part of the interior of the pot.
That pushes the clay at the bottom outward, widening
the pot's floor, without having the entire ball of clay
flare outward.
The Physics of Pinch Pots

By working with controlled pinches, we can control

the shape of the pot.
If we pinch indiscriminately, without thinking about
how the clay will react and where it will move, we
will loose control.
Making a Pinch Pot

Form a ball of clay and

push your thumb into
the center. Then pinch
from the bottom up.
Turn the piece as you
pinch. This will help you
keep the walls of the
piece at an even
thickness.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.osartistsco-op.com/pixhow/pinch06.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.osartistsco-op.com/how_pinch.html&usg=__EZ8-
cN3u_W3lSDLSiTuSod8weQI=&h=244&w=300&sz=11&hl=en&start=2&sig2=92cpmejJgPmSqYZwhpE5jg&zoom=1&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=5I47G7nJbQsKVM:&tbnh=94&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq
%3Dpinch%2Bpot%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=2lHcTLSfCMzYnAeKjoG_Cg
Pinch Pot Cell Phone Holder/
Speaker
On sale on Amazon
$29.95