Creating a Cylindrical Slab Teapot with Darts and a Hollow Handle Intermediate Level

This video is a demonstration of Creating a Cylindrical Slab Teapot with Darts and a Hollow Handle- Intermediate Level. I am using a soft slab without texture in this video- but of course, you can make it with texture. My ceramics II students have a textured slab set project for which this technique really lends itself. The link to a photo of the patterns is below. Rectangle is 15” long and 5” high. Circle bottom is 5” diameter. The patterns will be on an 8.5x11” document, but you can enlarge it to make it whatever size you want. I will have a key for the size on the document. drive.google.com/file/d/1hRpC...
As I recommend in the video, I suggest that if you have not done soft slab building previously, that you start with something a bit easier- like a cup or a bowl to learn the basics of this method of construction before you try something more advanced with so many multiple parts like the teapot. Here are a couple of videos here for a good place to start:
Slab cylinder bowl: • Textured Slab Bowls Fr...
Slab cylinder cups: • Three Variations on Ma...
Tripod Cylinder cups: • How to make a Tripod T...
Cylinder cup with squared bottom: • Creating a Round Slab ...
The slabs are rolled using my ¼” thick hardwood slab sticks and a rolling pin. I then ribbed/compressed the slabs before cutting out the patterns. I use the Kemper serrated rib for scoring the slabs and attachments. (See my doc below for links to the tools). When the main body of the teapot form is built, then I show the darting of the shoulder to create a rounded appearance, and to bring the opening smaller for the lid. I also show how to make the spout and the hollow handle, and lid. (Learned this first from Sandi Pierantozzi… check out her gorgeous work!) I show how I attach the spout and handle. I do poke a small hole in the handle with a needle tool off camera to allow a vent hole for thorough drying. When everything is finished, I don’t believe I mention it, but SLOW DRYING is of the greatest importance for even drying. Don’t ever allow your teapots to dry uncovered quickly… it is the surest way to get cracking at your handles! I cover mine with a few layers of a heavy bath towel, and then lightly drape a bag over that. It took a week to A week and a half to dry before I fired it.
Check out my Amazon Influencer Store where I have recommendations for some of my favorite tools and products many of which I use in my videos- which are available on Amazon. www.amazon.com/shop/karanspot...
For the great tools I used in the video (including the MKM rollers and the wooden Kemper tools) check out this link to a live Googledoc I continually update with lots of my favorite tools on Amazon using my associate links! (also some non-amazon suggestions on here!)
docs.google.com/document/d/1X...
In this video, I am using standard 153, a nice midrange firing stoneware in my classroom.
I am a public high school ceramics teacher at William Mason High School in Mason, Ohio. (Mason is currently the largest high school in Ohio!) As a potter, I have been working in clay for over 30 years, and I have been teaching for over 28 years, the past 20 have been specifically teaching high school ceramics. I love what I do! I have my own studio in my home basement, where I work on my personal pottery for my Etsy site; www.etsy.com/shop/KaransPotsA...
I started my KZbin channel a few years ago, to make videos to help my students if they are absent and miss a demo, or if they would like to explore more advanced techniques independently. I have been amazed to reach such a wider audience than my own students!
Please subscribe to my channel if you would like to receive channel updates, or would like to learn more about clay and studio processes!

[@sonjaduplessis7315]

Karan, thank you so very much for the tutorial. I love the way you put the darts in and explaining the spout so well. You are the best💕

[@gilliangilchrist2211]

You are such a good teacher. Thank you.

[@crunchybeen4263]

Thank you! I now have an idea for Christmas for my mother-in-law and sister-in-law next year! Thank you!

[@kasprrrdelaney6091]

Brilliant!

[@DonnaMcLaurin]

Thank you! You are a great teacher!

[@vanimedeot7965]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Brillante! Muchas Gracias!

[@susanparker3699]

I’ve taken quite a few tips from this video, Karan, to make a watering can. It’s getting bisque fired this week so I can glaze it Sunday in class. One more opportunity to ruin it 😂. The tips were very helpful.

[@sheilavandervalk3393]

Very nice pot.

[@denisenoble4010]

I'm a teabag, t.pot fan, and I've been watching some of your flouting blogs and enjoying all the processes involved. While on the hunt for tools I saw one of the tools you were using to help join the spout and wall on your tea pot, and I did wonder how you would use it, now I know, thank you. I love all your vlogs. I'm slowly going through them as I'm learning on my own clay journey so thank you for this mass of information, stay safe stay well and keep potting. Denise

[@mimidaniel9943]

Hi. I love your videos I am also into simple! I appreciate the honesty of your craft and skill. I have been looking for that wooden tool you mentioned and am having no luck. PLEASE let me know where you got it; it isnt in your list. Its the wooden throwing tool....there are many out there but that one is versatile for throwing and sculpture! lol

[@aubreytauer7308]

What is that long wooden tool that you use towards the beginning when putting the edges together on the initial slab? It looks a lot like a regular wooden modeling tool, just so much longer! I’d really like to get one, but I checked your Amazon store and didn’t see it there (also just FYI, quite a lot of the things in your Amazon store are not being sold anymore, so I think you just might need to find the same thing with a different seller who has them in stock if you’d like us to be able to buy things through your store). Thanks for the great video, I’m going to start my first attempt at any teapot, starting with slab building since I am far from doing a wheelthrowing one tomorrow. Wish me luck!

[@sonjaduplessis7315]

Karan, if I may ask; when you fire your pot, do you fire it with the lid on the pot or off? Thank you so much 💕

[@KatetheskateStudio]

What do you use to cover your tables with? I am a fellow art teacher.

[@katiagalkina4607]

Thank you so much! I learned a lot! As I'm a total newbie got two questions after watching this.

[@ellenstoysich1825]

Have you tried to use a piece of damp fabric to help you roll the hollow handle and spout?

[@tamilandis52]

Any tips on glazing interior/exterior components of this teapot?

[@jacquelinemulders9975]

Is it necessary to make a little hole in the handle? So the air inside does not crack it?

[@hollymartin9563]

Is the ribbing of the slabs essential?

[@MrsJones-iy9ue]

Do you have the pattern to make your pottery online for us?! I love your slab creations!

[@denisenoble4010]

Sorry for various predictive text mistakes, all looked good till I pressed comment, hopefully you can make out that I was trying to say I like your work and thank you for sharing