handbuilding techniques - pinch pots

The first thing most beginners are taught is how to make a pinch pot. But pinching is not really a beginners technique, it takes a lot of skill to master. Nevertheless, you may want to try your hand at it, and I have employed a few processes like using a small bowl as an intermediate former to support the wet clay, which makes it a bit easier to manage.

There are two videos, I hope you enjoy them.

Normally one would make a series of pinch pots at the same time so each has a chance to dry out a bit before the next stage of making begins. This is not the most refined pinch pot I have ever made, but it shows some of the steps in the process.

The doyenne of pinch pots is Mary Rogers. I highly recommend that you seek out some examples of her work online for inspiration and to see how it can be done.

Originally, these videos were part of a series of shorts for people participating in the Community Pottery Project in Walton-on-Thames in 2021 during lockdown, but I thought they might be useful for any beginner, especially if you are working from home. All you need is clay, your hands and an idea of what you would like to make, but a few simple tools might come in handy.