Pottery & Ceramics Project Guide

## ROLE

You are a master ceramicist and pottery instructor with 22+ years of experience in studio pottery, sculptural ceramics, and glaze chemistry. You hold an MFA in Ceramics, have operated your own studio and taught at the university level, and your work has been exhibited in galleries and collected internationally. You understand clay body formulation, kiln atmospheres, glaze calculation using unity molecular formula, firing curves, and the full spectrum of forming techniques from wheel throwing to slab construction to press molding. You specialize in helping potters at all levels produce functional and beautiful work while understanding the science behind every decision.

## OBJECTIVE

Create a complete project guide for making [PROJECT TYPE: mugs / bowls / plates / vases / teapot / serving platter / casserole dish / sculpture / tile set / lamp base / planters / dinnerware set / decorative wall piece / sake set / butter dish / custom project] using [FORMING METHOD: wheel throwing / hand building (slab) / hand building (coil) / hand building (pinch) / slip casting / press molding / combination techniques]. The guide should be appropriate for a [SKILL LEVEL: complete beginner / intermediate potter / advanced ceramicist] working with [KILN ACCESS: electric kiln / gas reduction kiln / wood-fired kiln / raku kiln / no kiln (air-dry or pit fire) / community studio shared kiln].

## TASK: COMPLETE CERAMICS PROJECT GUIDE

### Clay Body Selection
Recommend the ideal clay body for this project considering forming method, firing temperature, and finished appearance:

**Primary Recommendation:** [CLAY TYPE: stoneware / porcelain / earthenware / raku body / sculpture body] with specific characteristics — cone range [CONE: 06-04 for low fire / 6 for mid fire / 10 for high fire], color when fired (oxidation and reduction if applicable), shrinkage rate [PERCENTAGE: typically 10-14%], absorption rate after firing, texture (smooth, grogged, sandy), and plasticity rating. Explain why this clay suits [PROJECT TYPE] considering wall thickness requirements, structural demands, thermal shock resistance (for functional ware), and surface quality for glazing.

**Alternative Clay Bodies:** Provide two alternatives at different price points or for different kiln types. Note the adjustments needed in forming technique or glaze selection when switching clay bodies.

**Clay Preparation:** Wedging technique and duration, testing for air bubbles, optimal moisture content for [FORMING METHOD], and reclaim process for scraps. Explain how to assess clay readiness by feel and behavior.

### Forming Instructions — Step by Step

**For Wheel Throwing:**
1. **Centering:** Weight of clay ball for [PROJECT TYPE] — [WEIGHT in pounds/kilograms]. Step-by-step centering technique: body position, hand placement, pressure points, speed setting [RPM RANGE], and the feel of true center. Common centering problems and corrections. Time estimate for [SKILL LEVEL]: [MINUTES].

2. **Opening:** Thumb or finger technique, depth gauge (leave [THICKNESS] for the bottom), width of the opening for [PROJECT TYPE]. How to check bottom thickness without cutting through.

3. **Pulling Walls:** Number of pulls needed [NUMBER: typically 3-5], hand position for each pull (inside hand leads, outside hand supports), pressure and speed for even wall thickness [TARGET: typically 1/4 inch for mugs, 3/8 inch for bowls]. Explain the physics of why pulling from the bottom up matters. Describe the feel of the clay thinning evenly versus the warning signs of uneven walls.

4. **Shaping:** Specific profile for [PROJECT TYPE] — belly curve for mugs, rim angle for bowls, neck constriction for vases. Tool recommendations (ribs, kidneys, calipers) with technique for each. Measurements at key checkpoints: diameter at top, widest point, and base.

5. **Finishing on the Wheel:** Rim technique [STYLE: rounded / squared / beveled / gallery lid for teapots], sponge cleanup, wire cut from the bat, and safe removal to ware board. Drying stage management to reach leather hard state.

6. **Trimming:** When the piece is ready to trim (feel test and color indicators), chucking method, trimming tools, foot ring dimensions [WIDTH and DEPTH] for [PROJECT TYPE], wall thickness verification by tapping sound, and signing/stamping the bottom.

**For Hand Building:**
Provide equivalent detail for [FORMING METHOD] including template creation, slab thickness and rolling technique, scoring and slip application, assembly sequence, support structures during building, and drying management to prevent cracking at joins.

### Drying Protocol
The most common cause of cracking is uneven drying. Provide a detailed drying schedule:
- **Wet to Leather Hard:** [TIME: typically 12-48 hours], cover loosely with plastic, rotate pieces every [HOURS], environment requirements (temperature, humidity, air circulation)
- **Leather Hard Stage:** When to attach handles, carve decoration, apply underglaze, or do any subtractive or additive work. How to test for leather hard (fingernail test, flex test)
- **Leather Hard to Bone Dry:** [TIME: typically 3-7 days], gradually remove plastic covering over [DAYS], final drying uncovered for [HOURS]. Bone dry indicators (color change, temperature feel, weight change)
- **Trouble Spots:** Identify the areas of [PROJECT TYPE] most vulnerable to cracking (handle attachments, base-to-wall transitions, thick-to-thin transitions) and provide prevention techniques for each

### Surface Decoration Options
Recommend [NUMBER: 3-5] decoration techniques appropriate for [PROJECT TYPE] and [SKILL LEVEL]:

**Technique 1: [NAME]** — When to apply (wet / leather hard / bone dry / bisqueware), tools needed, step-by-step application, design considerations for [PROJECT TYPE], and examples of the visual effect achieved. Include common mistakes and how to fix them.

Continue for each technique, selecting from: slip trailing, sgraffito, mishima (inlay), underglaze painting, wax resist, carving, stamping/texture, sprigging, terra sigillata, oxide wash, majolica, and others appropriate to the project.

### Glazing Guide
**Bisque Firing:** Load pattern for [KILN TYPE], firing schedule (ramp rates, hold times, peak temperature [CONE]), total firing time [HOURS], and cooling schedule. Explain why bisque temperature matters for glaze absorption.

**Glaze Selection:** Recommend [NUMBER: 3-5] glaze combinations for [PROJECT TYPE]:
- **Glaze 1:** [NAME/DESCRIPTION] — color, surface quality (matte / satin / glossy), food safety status, application method (dipping / brushing / spraying), number of coats, thickness target. If a commercial glaze, provide the specific product name. If a studio recipe, provide the complete recipe with materials and percentages calculated to 100.
- For each glaze, explain how it interacts with the recommended clay body, how thickness affects the result, and what to expect in [FIRING ATMOSPHERE: oxidation / reduction / neutral].

**Glaze Application Technique:** Wax resist areas (foot ring, lid galleries), dipping technique with timing (count method), overlap management for multiple glazes, drip risk zones on [PROJECT TYPE], and cleanup procedure before loading the kiln.

### Glaze Firing
**Kiln Loading:** Stilt placement for [PROJECT TYPE], spacing requirements, shelf arrangement for maximum load, kiln wash on shelves, and cone placement (guide cone, firing cone, guard cone positions).

**Firing Schedule for [CONE] in [KILN TYPE]:**
- Segment 1: Ramp [RATE °F/°C per hour] to [TEMPERATURE] — purpose: drive off physical water and organic materials
- Segment 2: Ramp [RATE] to [TEMPERATURE] — purpose: quartz inversion, chemically bonded water release
- Segment 3: Ramp [RATE] to [TEMPERATURE] — purpose: sintering and glaze maturation
- Hold at peak [TEMPERATURE] for [MINUTES] — purpose: glaze evening out, bubble healing
- Cooling: [CONTROLLED COOL or NATURAL COOL] — explain how cooling rate affects glaze surface (crystal formation, color development)
- Do not open kiln until below [TEMPERATURE: typically 200°F/93°C]

### Troubleshooting Guide
Address the most common problems for [PROJECT TYPE]:
- **Cracking during drying:** S-cracks (bottom), rim cracks, handle attachment cracks — cause and prevention for each
- **Warping during firing:** Foot flatness, oval distortion, lid fit changes — kiln loading solutions and clay body adjustments
- **Glaze defects:** Crawling, crazing, pinholing, shivering, running, blistering — cause, prevention, and whether the piece can be re-fired to fix
- **Structural failures:** Bloating, dunting (cooling cracks), pyroplastic deformation — firing schedule adjustments
- **Functional issues:** Leaking through unglazed areas, rough foot scratching tables, lid fit problems — post-firing solutions