Many people all around the world currently call pottery a hobby. Pottery is enjoyable by everyone. Anyone can create nice pieces of pottery with time and hard work. There are five steps in the basic process of making pottery throwing, trimming, bisque firing, glazing and glaze firing.

The first step is when the clay mound which is soft and fresh is spun on a pottery wheel to form the basic shape of a pot. Using your hands and a variety of other tools you can shape the pot into any shape you wish. After complete the basic pot shaped clay is removed from the wheel and placed to the side where it will dry. The basic pot waiting to dry is normally called greenware. Once your basic pot is completely dried it should be firm. You will take it and put it back on the wheel where it is then trimmed using a number of different tools while spinning the greenware. One you have trimmed the pot down to its desired shape you then place it to the side once and again and allow it to dry completely.

Once the pot has dried completely it is then ready for bisque firing. Bisque firing is conducted when the pot is placed in a gas or electric kiln. You usually start the initial firing at around 1800 to 2300 degrees Fahrenheit. It sometimes takes a day or so for the kiln to cool off. Your basic pot should not be pretty strong. Your basic pot can now be called bisqueware. It is common for your pot to shrink a little during this process.

Your pot is now ready to be painted with glazes or dipped in glazed.  Your pot can be specially decorated using underglazes. Never try to use normal paints for glazing pottery. Many glazing materials are know to be poisonous so be sure to keep your glazing materials in safe lead free containers.  You will then need to fire you pot once again. Don’t worry this is the last firing you will have to do. The last firing allows the glaze to transform into a hard and smooth substance. During the final firing your pot will also become harder, less porous and stronger. It is recommended that you use around 1900 to 2400 degrees Fahrenheit or higher for the final firing process. Now you should be done. It wasn’t that hard now was it?