Marvelous Mini Pots
Have you've ever seen a vase as small as you thump. You don't need to wast your wish on a shooting star. There real and I make them. Mini Pots is a type of ceramic miniature. It's wheel throwing on a small-scale level! Mini Pots are hard to find because it takes specialty tools and equipment to make them. Also, throwing Minis is one of the hardest things you can do on the wheel. It takes years to master the specific technique and, even then, they're essay to ruin. With this guide you could make minis yourself or check out Black Knights Inventory to see are stunning selection of pottery!
When I saw my first Mini Pot I feel in love. There was just something mystical about that tiny vase.
You Need These Tools!
Don't expect to just by ordinary sculpting tools from an art store. Mini Pots need mini tools. When I first tried making Mini Pots it seemed impossible to throw them without the clay being off centered. I would be forced to get bigger chunks of clay because my tools were too big. My minis became biggies! Eventually I figured out that I needed smaller tools (and a steady hand) to get my work done. Below is a list of tools you will need. With the right tools I can craft amazing shapes just for You!
Metal:
- Needle Tool
- Wire Tool (not needed for pots 1 inch or smaller)
- Loop Tool
Wood:
- Serrated Rib Tools
- Clay Modeling Tools (comes in a set)
Other:
- Sponge
- Small Water Bucket
- Knife
I learned early on that my tools were to big. Without the right tools you can never make a Mini Pot.
Celestial Clay & Glorious Glazes
So many types of clay, so many ways to destroy them. When I started to get the hang of it, I still needed to understand the materials I was working with. Pick the wrong glaze and you risk blowing up your work. Sometimes my glazes were too runny and the bottoms of the pots had to be sanded. Other times they cracked due to air pocket problems. Before you experiment with types of clay or glazes here is a list of materials to keep in mind. At Black Knight we get the finest selection of clay and glazes to give you the greatest little Mini Pots you've ever seen!
Clay:
- Porcelain
- Stoneware
- Earthenware
Glazes:
- Liquid
- Dry
- Homemade Glazes
Types of Glazes:
- Colored Slips
- Underglaze
- Overglaze
- Lusters
- Crystalline
- Lead Free
- Fritted Lead
- Raku
- Shino
Layering Glazes:
Quick note: Glazes are not like paints. You do not mix red and yellow to make an orange. A red and a yellow could make a scary green. It all depends on the chemical reactions. Sometimes you get fantastic results you weren't expecting. Others times the glaze melts off and you're left with a bare vase.
Some of my best vases had an unexpected result due to the glaze combinations I tried.
Throwing & Firing
You have the tools and materials, now its time to make them! While wheel throwing the minis I found it hard to keep the pot sizes small because the wheel I was working on was too large for 1-inch vases. Also the wheel bats (disks the pots spin on) were way to large for drying. I had to upgrade my equipment to give you the best I possibly can.
Mini Wheels:
I recommend you get a professional Mini Pottery Wheel to avoid this. They are custom made just for throwing miniature pottery. You can order them online. They are sturdy and portable. (I, however popped my wheel head off and am arranging to get it fixed.) It is a good idea to keep in contact with your distributors in case your wheel breaks or for extra parts.
Mini Kiln:
Firing is the last step in creating a ceramic piece of art. Knowing the process is extremely important because there are a lot of ways you can destroy your pot. You will need to take a class to learn the entire process. If you are thinking of buying a Mini Kiln, please make sure you have your electricity correctly wired. I bought a Kiln without the correct electrical. Currently, I can only fire and glaze from outside resources until it is hooked up safely.
Without the proper equipment I could never get my work done.
Mastering The Craft
Tiny vases take mad skill. It took me five years to master making Mini Pots. In all actuality, you will be discarding failed pots more than making them. Because they are so small they are easy to damage while throwing. You could lose the shape if it is off centered. (This happens to me quite often.) One way to stop this from happening is to have a steady hand, applying pressure on all sides continuously, to keep its shape. If you have trouble with wheel throwing here are other techniques. I put a lot of hard work into makeing the cleanest looking Mini Pots for my customers.
Techniques:
- Pinch
- Throwing
- Coiling
Making just a batch of Mini Pots is a lot of trial and error. I can work all night and still only get a handful done. But it's so worth it!
A Variety of Tiny Treasures
Mini pots are rare and precious. The variety is endless. They are fun to collect. Because each one is individually made by the artist's hand, they are unique, in fact, one of a kind. They are perfect for a special gift. Here at Black Knight Pottery we sell Mini Pots, Ceramic Candle Holders, Ceramic Crystal Balls, and Mini Ceramic Pumpkins.
There was nothing more satisfying than making a Mini Pot and sharing my work with YOU!