When you are new to pottery, the sheer variety of clays available can seem overwhelming.
This guide aims to explain the choices and help you choose the right one for your project.
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If you are just starting out and don't intend to make any huge pieces or have a particularly grainy texture to your piece, then there is no place better to start than with our Vitraclay School and Studio All Purpose Clay. The clay gains it's name from the fact that it is a formulation that lends itself to many applications while being easy to work with, so is favoured by schools and colleges as their standard clay of choice.
Here at Hot Clay we offer two different school clays: the Vitraclay School and Studio All Purpose Clay and the Vitraclay Terracotta Clay. Both can be used for throwing (on a potters' wheel) or handbuilding.
If you intend to glaze, then just remember to use a stoneware glaze if you are using the School and Studio Clay, or an earthenware glaze if you are using the Terracotta Clay.
If you have a specific project in mind or are looking to try out different clays, then you should consider what you want to make when deciding on which clay you will use:
Here at Hot Clay we offer two different school clays: the Vitraclay School and Studio All Purpose Clay and the Vitraclay Terracotta Clay. Both can be used for throwing (on a potters' wheel) or handbuilding.
If you intend to glaze, then just remember to use a stoneware glaze if you are using the School and Studio Clay, or an earthenware glaze if you are using the Terracotta Clay.
If you have a specific project in mind or are looking to try out different clays, then you should consider what you want to make when deciding on which clay you will use:
Earthenware or Stoneware?
The most obvious distinction made between clays is that some are earthenware, and others are stoneware or porcelain. So what is the difference?
Colour
Clays are generally red (terracotta), buff (light grey) or white. Which you choose is largely a matter of taste, although terracotta clay is an earthenware clay only. Bear in mind that the colour of the clay will also affect the final colour of any glaze or decoration you use over the top. Here is an example of an earthenware glaze on buff and terracotta:
Texture and Strength
Clay is also available in different textures, this is done by adding 'grog' to the base clay body.
Grog is fired clay that is ground down to different grades (from powder to coarse sand) and adds strength and warp resistance to the clay as well as texture. Consider a grogged clay if you are building a larger piece.
If you creating dinnerware a smooth texture is more hygienic and nicer to touch (a heavily grogged clay will not make a pleasant vessel to drink from). The texture of a heavily grogged clay can make throwing on a wheel a more painful experience on the hands too!
Grog is fired clay that is ground down to different grades (from powder to coarse sand) and adds strength and warp resistance to the clay as well as texture. Consider a grogged clay if you are building a larger piece.
If you creating dinnerware a smooth texture is more hygienic and nicer to touch (a heavily grogged clay will not make a pleasant vessel to drink from). The texture of a heavily grogged clay can make throwing on a wheel a more painful experience on the hands too!
