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Pottery Tips and Techniques

Fish Press Technique

Using fish bones to create a “fossilized” impression in clay.
To prepare the bones, choose a large-boned fish (we used Bass) and bake in foil.
Clean the bones thoroughly to expose the skeleton for the press.









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Prepare Clay

Knead the clay as if working with bread dough to remove any air pockets.

Roll Clay

Roll out the clay with a rolling pin.
This pottery fish press technique is easy to do.
It is best to lay paper or a piece of plastic to roll the clay out on, it will make it easier to pick up after it is rolled out.
If you lay a yardstick on each side of your clay just wide enough so that the rolling pin will ride on them, when your clay is rolled out it will be the same thickness throughout.

Press Fish Skeleton Into Clay

Pressing Fish bones of Pottery Project
The best fish for getting a skeleton for this process is your pan fish because they are fried whole and the skeleton is usually flat.
After you have carefully taken the meat off the bones, dry the skeleton in the oven at about 100 degrees with the door cracked for about one hour.
Gently press the fish skeleton into the clay with your fingertips.

Cover Fish

Cover the clay slab with freezer paper or craft paper.

Press Fish

Press the fish skeleton into the clay with the rolling pin.

Lift Paper

Peel away the paper.

Remove Fish

Gently remove the fish skeleton.

Add Details

Adding details to the pottery project
Use a embossing tool to carve in the background detailing.

Apply Color

While the clay is still wet, apply the EZ Stroke colors (which can be purchased at any ceramic shop) for the background and detailing of the fish.

Add Details With Color

Outline and detail the fish with black.
Let the clay dry.
To finish the piece, glaze with clear glaze and fire to shelf Cone 06.

More fun techniques available at
Pottery and Ceramic Techniques at http://www.duncanceramics.com/technique.aspx

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Have you ever come up with a good idea while working with your handmade pottery or ceramics and thought that you would like to share it with others? You have? Well, why not send it to us and we will add it to the tips page for all to see.

Handmade pottery can be a very gratifying hobby that produces fun and satisfying results. For many people it's an enjoyable release that is created by working an inanimate mound of clay into a beautiful work of art that you made through your artistic abilities.

The best way of starting out is to take a few lessons. You will probably waste quite a bit in materials when you first get started. Figuring out how to truly make handmade pottery correctly and shape into what you want it to be can be quite an ordeal. The different tools that a normal shop will have can be fun to try. You will soon see which ones you like to use the most and then when you are ready you will know which ones to buy.

When you get all set up, just enjoy the hobby and have fun at it. Some people get pretty serious and start selling their creations at craft fairs and small stores, but others just like to create items for themselves, relatives, and friends. Whichever kind of handmade pottery you desire to endeavor, enjoy the hobby and have fun doing it.

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