How to Make AGATEWARE/NERIKOMI Patterns

How to make Agateware/Nerikomi patterns with colored porcelain. I've made a few agateware/nerikomi pottery videos already so I figured it was time for a more in-depth tutorial. It's longer than my usual videos but I promise there's lots of good tips and techniques for making your own nerikomi blocks that you can then use to make colored pottery. The process takes a long time so it's hard to keep the videos short. Hope you enjoy! Let me know what you think!
How to Add Colors to Clay: • How to Add Colors to C...
Add Colors Using Mason Stains: • How to Add Colors to C...
You DON'T ALWAYS need mason stains for this process. You could just use a brown clay and a white or gray clay.
You might also come across neriage in your nerikomi search. It's a similar process, sometimes used interchangeably, but neriage is usually made on the wheel after your slabs are cut and formed into a cylinder. Neri means "to mix" and age means "pull up". But again, nerikomi and neriage are similar and use many of the same techniques. Marbled clay is also in this family but usually marbled clay is messier and uncontrolled. Nerikomi, agateware, and neriage are more controlled processes.
I'm using a cone 6 porcelain colored with different mason stains. If you're interested in adding colors to your clay you can check out one of my videos about adding colors to clay. Colored clay pottery is awesome and it makes glazing much easier if you have limited glaze choices. I usually dip my pieces in clear after they've been bisque fired but not always.
/ ceramicjim
My name is Jim Fazio. I'm a practicing ceramic artist and teacher. I make tutorials, time lapse creations, and give you an inside view of the life of an artist. This channel is for students, teachers and any creatives interested in improving their skills. Check out my channel for more if you're interested.
Music:
In My Soul by Liam.M / liammmusic
Music provided by Free Music for Vlogs • (Free Music for Vlogs)...
Lovin by Dj Quads / aka-dj-quads
Music provided by Free Music for Vlogs • ** No Copyright Music ...
Medusa Vibes by Dizaro / dizarofr
Music provided by Free Music for Vlogs • ** No Copyright Music ...
Lowrider by Joakim Karud / joakimkarud
Music provided by Free Music for Vlogs • ** No Copyright Music ...

[@boomtowncats8927]

The kids can be happy to have you teaching them this great stuff. I hope they are thankful 🙂

[@CeramicJim]

One can only hope they are! Thank you for the kind words.

[@maryvitale1716]

Your instructions are always clear and concise and mostly friendly. Thank you Jim!!!

[@CeramicJim]

Thanks Mary! That means a lot. It's hard not to ramble when I make these, especially because I'm a teacher. I'll try to be "always" friendly moving forward :)

[@franciscavdk2707]

I love this video. I already colored some clay. Tomorrow I'll try some nerikomi.

[@olgadimitrova1674]

Благодаря! Благодаря! Благодаря! 🥰 🙏 Любов от България 💖

[@kingyung1689]

Amazing! Thank you for your sharing!

[@laurobelrecordingstudio]

Great tutorial Jim, I’m learning a lot 👍

[@shannonrehs1463]

Thank you! I have been trying to find something for my advanced ceramics students (HS) to make in our remote setting that can get them really excited... this is it! Thank you for explaining different approaches so that my students have choice too! They are going be really enjoy their final artwork in this very different setting!

[@CeramicJim]

Thank you so much for the the kind words, Shannon. Let me know how it goes!

[@sugarrush5579]

Last one is my favorite 😍!!

[@rr7firefly]

The fired ceramic cups and vases look great. I really like the black and white swirled. Makes me think of Klimt.

[@CeramicJim]

Thank you. Ha, I do see the Gustav reference there 😉

[@dorianthegray253]

I just want to thank you, I've been interested in these techniques for a long while but my ceramics professor didn't have much to say about it. So glad I can learn about this here instead. Thanks!

[@CeramicJim]

As a teacher myself that makes me happy to hear you say that. Thank you! There’s more to come. Nerikomi and colored clay is pretty much all I’m working with right now ;)

[@ellengray3618]

Great video and really clear instruction. I’m inspired! Thanks

[@CeramicJim]

Thanks! Go for it! Go make something amazing. 👍🏻

[@ApocalypseLounge]

Love the extruder hack!

[@CeramicJim]

Thanks Mark!

[@hilostateofmind]

Marbled! Looks like water color 😍

[@natashananders5377]

I love your videos! I'd love to see your take on a tutorial for creating clay items- like a mug or vase :) I'm trying to learn and your videos are a huge help!

[@CeramicJim]

Thank you! Somehow I missed our comment Natasha. I recently made a video on making nerikomi pottery with a plaster mold. I hope you were able to check it out!

[@norakaven3705]

Thanks for this video Jim! Very inspiring!!!

[@CeramicJim]

Thank you Nora!

[@claydaystudios6230]

LOVE LOVE... this is beautiful! I'm fairly new to pottery and been watching lots of videos, John the Potter recommended your videos and this made my day... Thank you for your time to teach us all

[@CeramicJim]

Aww. That's so nice of you to say! Thank you. I'm glad he sent you my way!

[@stephenhawes9542]

@@CeramicJim zzs,dszzzz,,

[@badsoutherngirl]

Thanks for sharing your talents and knowledge.

[@CeramicJim]

Thank you Rose, for the kind words

[@janicedavy3193]

Thanks for sharing your video. You're very creative. Good job.

[@CeramicJim]

Thanks for the comment!

[@Carlos31416]

Very nice, thanks for sharing your works 😊

[@CeramicJim]

You're welcome! Thanks for the kind words!

[@themercurialmoxie]

I love the marble scrap block. That would make pretty jewelry. 😊❤

[@CeramicJim]

Thank you. I wish I had more of it. It turned out great.

[@user-ik2em2en8h]

Today I learned neriage and nerikomi in pottery class. It was a lil bit frustrating... 😅 I wish I had seen your videos before! Love them! :)

[@CeramicJim]

Thanks! It’s a frustration you learn to live with 😆

[@flowerpower72]

Phenomenal, thank you for sharing!

[@CeramicJim]

Thank you! Happy to help!

[@sf5823]

Love your finished pieces! Lots of character! Cool video :-)

[@CeramicJim]

Thank you!

[@ninaleninja]

amazing work ! i love it

[@CeramicJim]

Thank you Nina!

[@radhasreedhar116]

Wow Jim... thats amazing! Inspiring...

[@CeramicJim]

Thank you! I’m planning to make some pieces with these blocks soon. I’ll keep that inspiration coming!

[@marcohairdoctor]

Great ideas! Thank you.

[@CeramicJim]

Happy to help!

[@clayandculturetours110]

Beautiful and well presented

[@CeramicJim]

Thank you. I’m looking to make an updated video now that I’ve learned more over the years. Any suggestions on what to elaborate on what you want to see?

[@ssekibalaandrew4555]

Thanks for your videos sharing is caring.

[@CeramicJim]

You’re welcome 👍🏻

[@julipolito7761]

Awesome! I always wondered how to do that.

[@CeramicJim]

Thanks Juli!

[@sohiernegm9512]

Thank you so much

[@donnagrammas7584]

Love the scrap.

[@CeramicJim]

Thanks. There’s a finished cup I made from the scrap block in the giveaway and nerikomi compilation video.

[@worldhello8642]

I prefer the marble scratch approach... It's beautiful,❤️💕

[@CeramicJim]

Isn’t it? Like a cosmic galaxy 😁

[@martapenacobo1539]

Love this

[@CeramicJim]

Thank you

[@TheSkuttt]

Very common techniques with polymer clay. Nice!

[@CeramicJim]

Yes, it's like us nerikomi people are cousins with the polymer clay people :)

[@sidney7203]

Awesome !!

[@CeramicJim]

Thanks!

[@tracyvale9011]

Cool ❤

[@alphonsechanekayebone7871]

Wonderfull

[@Samiambambam]

LOVE

[@CeramicJim]

Thank you!

[@ozziaak4496]

That extruder is genius!

[@CeramicJim]

Thank you! It's definitely come in handy and for cheap too.

[@guillerminavera]

muy bueno!!!

[@CeramicJim]

Thank you Silvia!

[@willemh3319]

i am wih a centre for phywical disabled people cva patients and hey really like yur relaxed approach not too fast

[@CeramicJim]

I'm sorry I missed this comment. Thank you for your kind words. Happy to share my passion!

[@EricGautierpublicprofile]

Hi Jim - Thank you for another great video. I would love to see some finished pieces using the nerikomi clay you just created :)

[@CeramicJim]

Thanks Eric! That's what I want to do next. Some on the wheel and some slab built. I want to get some finished and fired before the next one. We'll see!

[@angelaamicocollins9477]

Great video! When you are adding mason, you refer to %’s. Is that per pound of clay? Love learning with you!

[@CeramicJim]

Thanks Angela! Yes. I usually wedge up 10 pound batches at a time to make it easy so for most of those colors I added .8 pounds. For smaller amounts I measure in grams because it’s more precise. I go into A LOT of detail of different percentages in my mason stain color mixing video if you’re interested. I linked it in the description. Let’s keep learning together!

[@CeramicJim]

Mentioned you in the latest video ;) Give it a look!

[@catherinemcgavigan2497]

Me too! A really great video! Lots of very helpful tips and advice. Thanks Jim! Would love to see some of the finished pieces

[@MoeinPotter]

I’d love to work with colored clay but those are so rare and also expensive in my country. But I enjoy them on your channel instead =)))

[@CeramicJim]

Some day maybe, right? Thanks for the kind words :)

[@GameGirl-Color]

Where is the best place to purchase the pigments? Great video!

[@sampansklepav.]

Дуже гарна робота,🔥👍🇺🇦

[@jadesapucahy]

Thank you very much! Thank you for describing all theses process.

[@leisongivangomo5656]

8:52 is the nicest in my opinion 😍

[@CeramicJim]

Thanks for the comment and feedback!

[@kitija1939]

Can I use mason stains with stoneware too?

[@Surfratglass]

Great info. Do you think gloves would be a good idea when working with the stains?

[@CeramicJim]

When mixing them in? Yes. I use gloves. Once they're mixed in I've heard it's not as bad. Airborne powder is a bigger concern for the lungs. It's also hard to work with gloves on. I don't know the exact science behind skin absorption.

[@cindylee909]

❤

[@willemh3319]

like the marble

[@CeramicJim]

Thanks!

[@donivers9454]

Hello Jim is it safe to use the color in cups mugs and other things that you eat or drink with Please let me know and what do you think on making a small pug mill? thanks JIm i am so new to pottery i have a few things but wanting to know of how small of a shop you can have thanks JIM and i hit the bell thanks

[@CeramicJim]

Yes!!! THE BELL! Thanks Don. It’s safe to use colors. Some of those same colors are in glazes so it’s good. I’m someone who want to DIy everything so I say go for, but I have no idea how you’d make one. My studio is pretty small but it is its own dedicated space which is nice. 8x14 feet

[@teralee4987]

Is it possible to use an oxide or mason stain to colour the clay black (where it actually fires black, or at least a grey)? Thanks very much!

[@teralee4987]

Durrr... nevermind, just found your other video! Hehe

[@CeramicJim]

Haha. No worries. Black is more powerful so you can use it at lower percentages. I don't like to waste time or materials, so I always measure what I'm using so I can replicate it again later.

[@dreamingthedreamersp1170]

Hi Jim. I've read that for nerikomi, you need the clay to be fairly wet. Has that been your experience? I've read of folks putting extra water in the bag with the clay ahead of time. Your clay seems pretty handleable. I'd be itnerested in your thoughts.

[@CeramicJim]

I see the same with some people that I follow but I still don’t work that wet. With that big striped block in this video I never had any issues with layers pulling apart. I would say while the clay was handleable is was more plastic than some clays I work with. This video was made almost two years ago. Since then I’ve started brushing water between layers as I stack. I don’t work super wet still but I make sure the clay is a good softness and I try to let it sit for a week or two after making a block. I used to roll my nerikomi slabs onto a blank slab (see my how to make nerikomi pottery with a plaster press mold video) so cracking was never an issue because it was sandwiched on that full blank slab. Now that I’ve moved on from that method I have to be more careful with adding water, smooth and blending colored layers together after cutting a slab and drying procedures.

[@1thank2you3]

is that colorant just regular pigment powder? or is there special color powder for pottery?

[@CeramicJim]

They are Mason Stains. Made specifically for pottery. They have all kinds of colors.

[@elizabethwatson71]

May I ever need to score and slip?

[@yaunaolmstead9834]

How do you keep your clay from drying out while doing this?

[@CeramicJim]

I either work with very wet clay or periodically spritz the pieces and let it soak in a bit

[@ljchan8229]

Ceramic jim!!!

[@CeramicJim]

Lily Chan!

[@kevinleong4467]

What do you buy to color your clay for Nerikomi (ie. red, dark blue, light blue, green, black, yellow etc.)? I have mason stains and I have made colored clay with mason stains but it is very expensive to do. How do you make yours?

[@CeramicJim]

Mason stains are just one of those things you have to deal with if you want to make bright colored clays. I get mine from US Pigment. For me they’re local, but it turns out people from all over the world buy from them. They have a chemist who makes all of their “inclusion” stains that are exclusive to US Pigment. The inclusion stains are guaranteed not to burn out because of how the pigment is coated. Some of the normal pinks reds or oranges or yellows can burn out at cone six or higher.

[@CeramicJim]

If you do reach out, the owner, Murtaza, tell him I referred you. I get nothing for it but I like to send people his way when I can.

[@kevinleong4467]

@@CeramicJim Thank you Ceramic Jim for everything you do. I love binge watching your nerikomi/agateware videos!

[@moniquejacquemin530]

Bonjour monsieur. Je voudrais savoir où vous avez trouvé votre extrudeur pour faire des colombins Merci

[@CeramicJim]

Merci!

[@mspiziri]

hello! I bought blue porcelain and it is really wet- is that normal?

[@CeramicJim]

Hey! A colorant won’t make a clay wetter or sticker. If anything it makes it dryer. The company that made it probably mixed it wetter to get the color to disperse better or it’s possible they mix it as a liquid and then let it dry, although I doubt that a company would do that because it’s time consuming and tedious. I’ve had clay orders come in, same clay same company but sometimes it wetter or even sticky and sometimes it’s not. It might just be the batch you got or it could be how the company makes it. Either way just wedge it on plaster or let it sit out for a bit and you should be good. Take note and see if you get the same consistency next time. I’m excited for your colored clay journey!

[@marciasilviajohnson6461]

Hi I just let you know. If you cut disks with very colours of clay and load the gun with the disks, just interchange the colours when you press out you going to have a log and when you slice it you going to have a wonderful surprise. Make a video you don’t regret. I hope I make myself clear. English is not my language. 🤗

[@CeramicJim]

Does it make that turtle shell effect? Like a bunch of concentric circles or squares? I think I’ve seen that in polymer clay but never in ceramics. I’ll have to give it a try. Thanks for the tip, Marcia 🙏

[@marciasilviajohnson6461]

Yes it does. I love to do that technique 🤗

[@nancymomookadaiva8785]

could you please show floral one ? or patterns?

[@CeramicJim]

Some day when I make another pattern video I will show many more.

[@savolrat]

its like that lady getting high off making patterns with the sponges

[@user-pd7qz6ik8z]

💠🔵🔲🔳🔲🔘💠🔵🔴🔻🔺🔴🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲🔲روعة الوان ساحرة لديك افكار قمة في ابداع شكرا لك

[@ingriddeguarda9022]

Dommage pas de sous-titres en français svp merci 🙏

[@dwalsh8628]

When you said 8% color to clay, was that volume or weight?

[@CeramicJim]

By weight. When I made this video I just did it by wet weight of the clay. Now I added mason stains to dry clay from scratch or add it to wet clay but subtract the water weight (with my best estimation) before weighing my stain. So I’m always adding stain to dry clay now, or in proportion to what the dry materials weigh.

[@dwalsh8628]

@@CeramicJim Thanks! Definitely something I can work with.

[@wilkas159]

it`s like damascus clay

[@CeramicJim]

Right on. Maybe I should make a knife.

[@WildAcornsArtStudio]

Hi Jim! I am new to Nerikomi, and was wondering if you single fire your Nerikomi?

[@CeramicJim]

I only have once. I’m always nervous and I don’t have a lot of experience once firing. My kiln is also manual and I don’t have a pyrometer so I’ve stayed away. I like the control and safety of glazing bisque.

[@WildAcornsArtStudio]

@@CeramicJim thank you for your reply! I made some test pieces, and went ahead and put them in a glaze firing, so I guess I'll find out soon enough. I do a 6 hour preheat, so hopefully that will be enough. :-) Thanks for the videos! Very informative! :-)

[@moniquejacquemin5313]

Bonjour , vous travaillez avec de l'argile ! Si oui comment faire une terre de couleurs , j'aime bien les couleurs merci pour votre video

[@CeramicJim]

J'utilise des "taches de maçon" pour teindre l'argile de différentes couleurs. Différentes quantités de taches mélangées feront des couleurs plus claires ou plus foncées / plus riches. Les taches de maçon fonctionnent mieux avec une argile très blanche comme une porcelaine. C'est vraiment amusant de travailler avec de l'argile colorée. Merci pour le commentaire. Désolé si cela a une mauvaise grammaire. J'utilise Google Traduction.

[@janicedavy3193]

Hello ! Thanks for sharing your video. How did you do to get colored clay . Thanks for your reply.

[@janicedavy3193]

What is tâches de maçon. Can you tell me please? Thanks for your reply.

[@CeramicJim]

I wedged masons stains into the clay to dye it. I use a video on my channel. Check out “adding color to clay using mason stains”.

[@CeramicJim]

I used google translate for that one. It was the best translation for Mason Stains

[@romainiktis7313]

Its so british exentric for me. May be other colors .... Good continuation

[@shelliegustafson7768]

Vry ool

[@CeramicJim]

Thanks Shellie!

[@susangunderson6814]

You didn’t show how you made the colored clay

[@CeramicJim]

Sorry for the confusion Susan. I had already made two videos about adding color to clay so I linked in the description to keep the video shorter. Here are the links if you're interested: How to Add Colors to Clay: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmWoeKmbnbeCqqM Add Colors Using Mason Stains: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3-agmR6ibuWbq8

[@robsanders5808]

Where's the video about assembling items from this clay?...as a studio potter for 40 years, I am sure assembling can be a challenge....smearing, etc....??

[@CeramicJim]

How to make Nerikomi pottery with a plaster press mold is one where I show my techniques a little bit. smearing can be a issue but I usually sand the outside so for me smearing isn’t as issue.

[@CeramicJim]

I primarily use press molds for that reason though. Great question. Thanks!

[@robsanders5808]

@@CeramicJim thanks..that makes sense..the clay slab facing the mold gets minimal handling and the inside can be glazed to cover the joints...steel wool the outside if needed...ta daa....

[@CeramicJim]

Yes. Steel wool is a life saver. I use those green scotch bright sponges first because they more aggressive. I hit it with a little steel wool after if there are marks.