Active Fine Art Posts
How To: Recycle scraps of clay
Recycling your clay will allow you to work with your clay longer. Recycling is easy, Abigail shows you how! By adding water to any green, or unfired clay, you can revitalize the scraps leftover from other projects. This helpful video shows how you can keep a scrap bucket and then wedge the clay back to it's original freshness.
How To: Wedge two types of clay together
Wedging two types of clay can give you a new color, which you can then use to further decorate your pieces. Make sure that the two kind of clay require the same firing temperature. You can mix your own personal clay to work with simply by selecting qualities in standard clays and kneading them together.
How To: Decorate a ceramic bowl
Susanne Engelhardt showcases her skills by decorating a bowl, in a trainyard! Review this video for some inspiring methods to paint ceramic bowls. This expressive style of painting ceramics allows for naturalistic imperfections.
How To: Trim a tall ceramic pot
Watch this instructional ceramics video to learn how to trim a tall pot on the pottery wheel. First, wet the rim of the pot and stick the pot upside-down to the bat. make sure that the pot of centered on the wheel. It's good to turn the turn the wheel slowly when trimming, to peel away the excess base material and make a nice foot ring.
How To: Throw a tall cylinder on a pottery wheel
Watch this instructional ceramics video to throw a tall cylinder on a pottery wheel. Using one hand to act as a brace, it is necessary to keep to a careful process of slowly pulling the clay upwards with even pressure until the clay walls are about 1/4" thick. The tall cylinder can then take on a more unique shape.
How To: Lift a clay piece off a wheel and dry a pot
This helpful video explains the logic involved when contemplating drying processes for ceramics. You will learn the correct way to lift a piece off the wheel, cover the pot, and measure the varying stages of drying clay. The instructor also includes a brief desciption of different glazing and firing methods.
How To: Center the clay for wheel throwing ceramics
This instructional video demonstrates how to center a piece of clay on a pottery wheel. Using electric pottery wheels, a steady hand is necessary to prevent the clay from flying off center. It helps to lock one's elbows to control the clay and eventually sculpt a perfectly centered cylinder.
How To: Prepare clay for wheel throwing
Georgia Tech resident pottery instructor, Trip, describes how to knead clay and get it ready for use on the wheel. First you need a piece of soft scrap or fresh clay. When kneading, or wedging the clay, try to force out all of the air bubbles. The kneading board should help to absorb excess moisture. Test the kneaded clay by slicing it with a wire cutter to check for air bubbles.
How To: Sculpt baby feet
This unique instructional slide show will show you how to sculpt tiny, delicate baby feet out of polymer clay. You will need polymer clay, sculpting tools, a paintbrush, and blush makeup. These guidelines can be used for sculpting baby feet on clay dolls. Polymer clay hardens in the oven, so it is convenient to sculpt baby feet at home.
How To: Throw quick ceramic plates
Watch this instructional ceramics video to learn how to throw a quick plate. Simply center your clay and create a wide disc before beginning the hole. Pull the lip of the plate out with a sponge. It is important to compress the rim. The most difficult step is to pay attention to the of the lip to widen the edge into a plate without breaking the clay or making it look like a bowl.
How To: Make an oval pie dish with Simon Leach
Watch this instructional ceramics video to learn how to make an oval pie dish with expert Simon Leach. Begin by throwing a clay pot with a wide base, as if throwing a plate. Then stop the wheel and lift the walls of the wet clay to bring the walls in, and seal the seems. The pot then has to stiffen before one can finish sealing and trimming of the excess clay from the round base.
How To: Trim a tiered bowl with Simon Leach
Watch this instructional ceramics video to learn how to trim a large tiered bowl with Simon Leach. With a thin bowl, one needs to be careful when balancing the upside-down bowl on the bat. Leach trims each individual tier with a large trimming tool. The large and possibly wobbly ceramic bowl can become once again even and graceful with some adventurous trimming. As we can see from the trimming process, when throwing a tiered bowl, it helps to leave some extra bulk.
How To: Throw a tiered bowl with Simon Leach
This instructional ceramics video will show you how to throw a large tiered bowl with expert, Simon Leach. Leach provides some of the delicate visuals needed to throw a large clay bowl. It is important to keep the clay evenly moist as you add the tiers. You may have to go back later to attempt to even out the balance of your tiered ceramic pot.
How To: Throw a wide bowl with Simon Leach
Watch this instructional ceramics video to learn how to throw a wide bowl with Simon Leach. As a preliminary step, one should throw a flat piece of clay onto the pad to assure easy lifting off of the bat. Centering is quite difficult with a larger piece of clay. Leach's visual guide allows one to view the delicate steps required to throw a wide ceramic bowl without letting it collapse.
How To: Trim a round bowl with Simon Leach
This instructional ceramics video shows you how to trim a round bowl. It is much easier of you have a centered pot to begin with. It is also helpful to leave a bit of extra clay in the base so that one can trim more freely. Once the clay is semi-dry, you can begin trimming. After trimming, smooth the trimming marks out using a rubber rib. A touch of water on the rim will re-elevate the rim after trimming your round pot.
How To: Trim Hakeme tea bowls with Simon Leach
Watch this instructional video with ceramics expert Simon Leach to learn how to trim and glaze Hakeme tea bowls. Leach uses a groggy, toothy clay which contains high iron content. He then adds a white clay slip with Hakeme grass brushes, which provides a thin layer of natural white clay texture, using a scratching technique. The white slip should be applied when the clay is still quite soft. The striking effect of Hakeme ceramics becomes more apparent as the clay dries.
How To: Dip tea bowls in glaze with Simon Leach
Watch skilled potter, Simon Leach, give his expert instructions on how to glaze a set of tea bowls. He also suggests some household supplies which can be used to embellish your ceramics when the clay is still soft, such as a bolt or a comb. This glaze is a combination of Scotland Hills red mud, feldspar and wood ash. He also uses white clay slip on some of the pots. This is a process wear one glazes the tea bowls while the clay is still semi-soft.
How To: Make a backpack with Threadbanger
In conclusion to our back to school week, Rob and Corinne are showing you how to take an old mens suit jacket and magically transform it into a backpack. So now it's time to raid uncle Ned's closet for an old sports coat, break out the scissors and start sewing. Be ready to go back to school with your own hand made backpack.
How To: Embellish a tank top with Compai Girls of Threadbanger
This week Rob and Corinne are headed over to the Compai Compound for a quick summer how to lesson from the DIY Divas of Fashion themselves. So pull out your old tank tops and snagg a pair of scissors because its time embellish. With some scraps of old fabric it's possible to turn a generic t-shirt or tank top into great summer BBQ wear.
How To: Sculpt a pig in polymer clay
This video sculpting tutorial shows a high speed version of the process for building a pig out of clay. Beginning with an aluminum foil skeleton, pink polymer clay is slowly added on, molded, and finished to create a realistic looking pig. Watch this video sculpting tutorial and learn how to make a pig figurine out of polymer clay.
How To: Throw a tea bowl on a pottery wheel
This video pottery tutorial shows how to throw a tea bowl, or handle-less mug, on a pottery wheel. Demonstrating potter Simon Leach shows the step by step process of this free form potted project. Watch this instructional video and learn how to throw a tea bowl.
How To: Decorate raw clay pottery with white slip
In this video pottery-making tutorial, Simon uses a white slip made from half china clay and half stoneware clay. Slip is an alternative to glaze for finishing a potted project. Simon also demonstrates an easy project to make a paint brush holder that will keep tools in place while using them. Watch this video demonstration to pick up a few ways to decorate a raw clay pottery piece with white slip.
How To: Square a ceramic clay pot before firing
Use a piece of wood to act as a bat to square off shapes when soft leather hard, evening them up more as the clay hardens. This ensures a smooth and professional finish on a clay pottery project. Watch this video pottery-making tutorial and learn how to square a clay pot before firing.
How To: Attach a handle onto a ramikin bowl
This video pottery-making tutorial shows how to attach a handle onto a ramikin bowl. As the handle and the ramikin need to be thrown on a pottery wheel separately, the two part need to be molded together. There is a bit of a trick to it so that the handle and pot join properly. Watch this instructional video and learn how to attach a handle onto a ramikin bowl
How To: Clean a DSLR camera
In this video segment, Veronica Belmont of Ask Mahalo shows how to clean a digital SLR camera. Follow the simple steps to get better quality photographs. Watch this video photography tutorial and learn how to clean a digital SLR camera and get crystal clear pictures.
How To: Make glass ribbon cane and twisty stringer glass
This video demonstration shows several ways to make glass ribbon cane for use in other projects. Bullseye brand COE-90 glass and a propane rich flame are used, as a slightly oxidizing flame is less likely to damage colors. Watch this video glass-working tutorial and learn how to work with both cane and stringer glass to make multi-colored glass projects.
How To: Make a duplicate sculpture using a press mold
Mary Buckman describes how to create a cast clay sculpture from a press mold. Press molds can be used over and over again to duplicate a sculpture without going through the tedious process of actually sculpting it or without the artistic talent required to. Watch this video sculpting tutorial and learn how to use a press mold.
How To: Sculpt a one part plaster mold
This video sculpting tutorial shows how to make a mold out of plaster. The mold demonstrated is subtractive, requiring an initial sculpture that the mold is based upon. This original clay sculpture can easily be duplicated by making a plaster mold. Watch this instructional video and learn how to sculpt a one part plaster mold.
How To: Cut glass to make blades of grass for a mosaic picture
While making a large-scale glass mosaic project, it might be necessary to follow a pattern, cutting out the individual pieces of the desired finished project. This video glass-work tutorial demonstrates the process of cutting out a piece of stained glass for a mosaic picture. Watch this instructional video and learn how to cut pieces of
How To: Throw a large clay vase on a pottery wheel
This video pottery-making tutorial demonstrates the entire process of a large clay vase. Watch as this ceramic clay vase takes shape from the interplay between the skilled and nimble fingers of the craftsmen, the lump of clay, and the potter's wheel. The finished product is truly a work of art. Start watching and throw your own beautiful clay vase.
How To: Recycle old jeans into a mini skirt with Gianny L
Learn how to recycle an old jeans into a sexy mini skirt! Crafter and recycler Gianny L shows how to take old jeans or pants, cut off the legs, and sew up a new mini skirt.
How To: Sculpt a polymer clay pawn
This video tutorial sculpting tutorial series shows how to craft a polymer clay pawn chess piece. Follow along with the steps to build and embellish this chess piece with human-like detail. Watch these instructional videos and learn how to make a sculpted polymer clay pawn chess piece.
How To: Recycle an old tire into sandals with Gianny L
Demonstrator and crafter Gianny L shows you how to make a pair of sandals out of a tire. This is a great DIY recycling project.
How To: Process black and white film photographs
Ruth from Stuff.tv goes retro to show us how to process a black and white photographic film. Film isn't dead, maybe because there's nothing quite as satisfying as printing out a set of negatives to make photographs. Watch this video photography tutorial and learn how to process pictures from black and white film.
How To: Guerilla silk screen t-shirts
Watch this printmaking tutorial video to learn how to do guerilla t-shirt silksscreening. You can print whatever you want on your shirts, but if you're a beginner, you should keep it to just two colors. Once you've watched this helpful how-to video, you'll be able to guerilla silk screen as many t-shirts as you want very easily. Guerilla silk screen t-shirts.
How To: Braid fabric without it fraying
Watch this fashion tutorial video from ThreadBanger to learn how to braid fabric without it fraying. You'll need three strips of fabric, pins, and a sewing machine. You can embellish just about anything with your new braids, and this instructional video will help you braid like a pro.
How To: Take an old t-shirt and make it look new
Watch this ThreadBanger fashion tutorial video to learn how to recon or revamp an old t-shirt to make it look new again. You'll need scissor, a safety pin, a t-shirt, elastic, and a sewing machine. This helpful DIY how-to video will help you turn an old t-shirt into a new-looking summer top.
How To: Distress your jeans
Watch this fashion tutorial video to learn how to distress your jeans quickly and easily. You'll need old jeans, a cheese grater or nail file, a hard object, a white crayon or chalk, and a pen knife or cutter. You'll be rocking your own distressed jeans in no time after watching this helpful how-to video.
How To: Create your own vintage jeans
Watch this fashion tutorial video to learn how to create your own vintage jeans by adding a brownish-copperish fade. All you need is old jeans, coffee grounds (preferably espresso), stockings, a bucket with a lid, and hot or boiling water. Soon you'll be sporting your own homemade vintage jeans!
How To: Recuperate clay to soften it
Watch this ceramics tutorial video to learn how to soften clay by recuperating it. This helpful how-to video teaches several techniques to recuperate and soften your clay that are easy enough for beginners. You'll never be stuck again when your clay gets too hard after you watch this instructional video and learn how to recuperate and soften it.