Coil Building Basics with 15 Decorative Coil Techniques! An Easy Beginner's Tutorial in Clay!

This video covers the foundational basics of building pottery by using coils as well as using 15 different decorative coil techniques which my Ceramics I students use in making a coil skillbuilder, and will use many of these techniques on our sculptural shoe project. I have a FOLLOW-UP video on how to clean the carving for greater precision, which can be found here: • Cleaning Leatherhard D...
As promised, here is the pdf I made of the poster of techniques and step by step assembly: drive.google.c...
If I can find the original document with the photos of coil techniques, I will share that as well.
Coil rolling is a skill to develop and here are some of my tips I show and explain:
1 squish clay into a sausage shape
2 twist ends in opposite directions
3 roll using your whole palm
4 pull hands apart to thin
5 push hands together to thicken
6 moisten coil occasionally
7 score and slip and blend first coil
8 fresh clay to fresh clay can just be moistened and blended
At the 14:20 mark, I have a screen to pause the video if you want to pause to practice the basics of coil rolling and making the bases and first coils.
At 14:20, then I begin showing 15 different coil techniques I show my kids while building. Don’t be limited by these, be adventurous and try to develop some more! The techniques I show are:
Straight coil
Rope
Snail Coils
Opposite End Snail Coils
Foldy-fence
Rainbow
Balls
Panels made from straight coils- can use a pattern to cut out
Thicker coil slightly flattened and stamped (could be carved leatherhard
Loopy String (like shoestrings)
Ribbon Wedge
Slab (can be textured and shaped-domed) Can use a pattern to cut out
Moving the edge inward or outward by placing the new coils slightly to the interior or exterior of the previous coil
Sculptural elements
I would clean further once the form is leatherhard with sculpting and cleaning any defects on the surface of the coils- sculpting it to look as natural as the intended coils as possible.
For the great tools I used in the video (including the mudtools shedders, ribs, and kemper mini ribbon 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.co...
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/s...
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!

[@annewalker3344]

I love your videos! I wish I had you as a teacher in middle school. Your students are so lucky to have you.

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Thank you! 😃

[@bethblanchard8353]

This is awesome, with such good direction, ideas and techniques. You're so generous. Thanks so much, I'm going to try this. It's so beautiful and you're so creative too!

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Thank you so much! I hope it’s helpful!! 😊

[@theOGcarlanicole]

You are amazing for this video! I had no idea where I wanted to go with clay until I ran into this video! Thank you!

[@maxcarne8518]

This is the first of your videos that I've come across. a-maz-ing. You're such a great teacher, considering the actual frustations of those new to clay work. I found the coil rolling technique so handy and has helped me fix all of the issues i had with lumpy, cracked coils from my big hot hands. Relly great, thank you.

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

That's wonderful!!! I am so happy you found it helpful! I'm just happy to share what I have learned in all my years of working with and teaching clay! :)

[@susanrahilly3074]

Thank you. The basics so clearly explained, then creativity takes over! Can't wait to try it.

[@jennytraviss3805]

Many, many thanks from Cape Town , South Africa. Incredibly helpful :)

[@annewatkis5824]

I wish I had you as a teacher full stop!

[@clayitnow]

This video is very useful. Thanks for showing us the coils technique. All the best with your teaching and youtube channel

[@ДаниилЛогинов-е2ц]

Big thx from Russia!

[@TheMarPacifico]

A ton of great tips and tricks...beautiful video

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Thanks so much!

[@butiwantlove]

Thank you so much for all of these tips! Incredibly helpful.

[@howardfeit8334]

Thank you for this wonderful video. I am currently enrolled in a pottery class for ( thru Community Education) and we just finished our first coil project. You have added so much to what I have seen in class!!

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

I'm so glad! Thanks for the kind words!

[@helenangus1675]

A big thank you from Tasmania such wonderful techniques.

[@catherinekuhle1859]

I love this video especially the beginning were you show the coiled camera I’m a photographer so I really think it’s amazing

[@golflady]

Thanks very much for very informative videos, excellent clear presentation.

[@sachdharma69]

Karan it would be awesome someday if you did a summer week long workshop... I would travel to participate !

[@annewatkis5824]

Wonderful tutorial! Thank you

[@debzfiedler6100]

Super helpful -- thank you!

[@chinwerussell1417]

Amazing explanation

[@cherylringer6940]

Love this! I'm a newbie, and learned so much!!

[@lindseyotto6356]

Great video! Thanks for sharing!

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Thanks for watching!

[@Liz-nk4cb]

I love hearing the purring cat!

[@chompers11]

wow incredible work thanks for sharing

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@hareshsareriya9667]

Great idea ❤

[@alexsmith-ig4mh]

Thank you for the video I’m working on a coil clay thingy rn

[@charleszweig2461]

This is amazing! Thank you so much!

[@corbindavies1089]

Need to dig for more clay

[@freespiritartstudio]

very helpful, thank you!

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

You’re welcome!!☺️

[@nancyk2894]

Thank you for this fabulous video! So helpful!

[@forestgrace9513]

Incredible. How would you make a lid for a coil made pot ?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

That depends on the design! If this would help- you could see how I show hand built lids in this video! kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKiYlYKDiZxpmdk

[@aninharomano123]

Thank you!!

[@matthewrosner1122]

Ur welcome

[@lorakrughcampbell8307]

So much better than my own classroom explanation!!. Im sending my students to watch. ALSO, WHERE DID YOU GET YOUR APRON?? Thanks so much

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Thanks, Lora! I got the Apron on Amazon! Game changer on the tightness I get in my neck from a regular apron!! amzn.to/3vTCsC9

[@lorakrughcampbell8307]

@@KaransPotsAndGlass ordering Now!!!

[@skullingtonfly]

What an awesome tutorial. Thank you 🙏🏼👍🏼

[@nurturewithartnature619]

Thank you for this lesson

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

You are welcome!

[@TheRealJoshH29]

Bro I had to watch this for school

[@urboimj9616]

Omg bro same

[@AFAskygoddess]

She's not a "bro".

[@elizabethhumphrey6138]

Love your video! Would you be willing to share Coil Technique pdf. Love this!

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

drive.google.com/file/d/0BzmXdgyrCiDGdFg3V1JsZ0Rnc3M/view?usp=sharing&resourcekey=0-avMVNEiuSFrrs4QQ5fSvIQ

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

and this one: drive.google.com/file/d/1ZVgVfIC7usDKVbj_I0SKT0rObUxGbSe5/view?usp=sharing

[@desertpotter1003]

So cool, lots of great ideas, wish I had a pottery teacher like you when I was going to school. Are your students college level or high school?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

They're high school!!

[@paintitredgirl]

Just wondering what you recommend in terms of finishes - glazes, stains, underglazes - for this particular project.

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

When I do this with my students, we use oxide for the exterior. Here’s a video where I show how we dip it. Ceramics I Themed Coil Pieces Video (Powerpoint) kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5rPlYaOlJWAr8U

[@paintitredgirl]

@@KaransPotsAndGlass Thanks!

[@claytonwason3488]

That's really the last step usually goes.😂😂

[@suzanwinn6116]

Hello, I might have missed the info on what kind of clay you are using? Thank you

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

The one in the video happens to be Standard 225. This technique works well with most clays I'd say! :)

[@SD_sculpture_Khmer]

Good ❤️

[@saraheveleduc]

Is this air dry clay ? Does it change anything if its air dry or kiln ? Or does it shape the same

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

It is not air dry clay. I can’t give you an accurate assessment- as I’ve never used air dry clay. I suspect it may work similarly.

[@emmanuelmendoza1776]

Thx

[@ginagypsy_creations8634]

Can I throw a base bowl on wheel and then add coil procedures?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Yes!

[@matthewrosner1122]

No u cant

[@ginagypsy_creations8634]

@@matthewrosner1122 previous answer by KaransPotsAndGlass stated yes. I have spoken to other pottery peeps that do cool pots and they have done the process that way as well.

[@lorikrauspenhar4702]

Muito lindo só não entendi com que material é feito podem explicar em português

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Hi- I was using a stoneware clay- a midfire cone 6 clay! :)

[@angelicapascua2371]

Hiii, how many grams of clay did you used?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

lol- honestly, I have no idea!? Sorry! After bisque, it's about 2.75 lbs- which converts to about 1278 grams bisque...

[@WhyNot-gw1xq]

What kinda of clay do you use ?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

At home I use both Laguna b mix with and without grog, and also Standard brand 365 English Porcelain. At school what I use for stoneware in addition to bmix, is standard 225 brown stoneware, 239 raku, and 103 earthenware and psh 401 black

[@1Ma9iN8tive]

Funky cool

[@canadaverydry]

Looks like Mayan's potery!

[@Maryse928]

Great teaching did I hear a cat purr from time to time?

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Lol- no cats! No idea what you may have heard! 😉

[@Илла-т1ъ]

🥰🥰🥰👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍👍👍

[@corbindavies1089]

Using my hands It takes half a day for each water filtration

[@-succulentplant-joan]

👍👍👍👍👍🤩

[@NicePersonNumberSeven]

I hope your students recognize they are lucky ducks.

[@legendreactstostuff]

What brought me here? Welp I guess I am stuck in this page for now

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

Ha!! Welcome!

[@X-ii7db]

Wait, how did i get here? What in the world

[@KaransPotsAndGlass]

😂😂😂😂

[@jadebladeZ]

You look like morgz