Drain Casting

• Many ceramic vases and pots are created by filling a plaster mold with a clay mixture called slip. As the clay mixture hardens it separates from the mold. Lines left in the clay by the mold are sanded smooth after drying. The piece is fired in a kiln at 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The piece is then ready to be glazed and fired a second time. After cooling it may be further decorated.
  
  

Pinch Method

• The pinch method of creating ceramics begins with a moist clay cylinder. The artist pushes a thumb in one end to open the cylinder and then pushes down and outward to expand the opening. Once the opening is large enough, a fist is pushed down on the inside to thin the bottom. The outside walls are supported by one hand while the other hand presses the inside until the vessel is the desired size.
  
  

Flat Coil Method

• Decorative contemporary ceramic vases are created quickly using a flat strip similar to the coil method. The clay is rolled out into a slab about 1/8-inch thick and strips about two inches wide are cut. Subsequent strips add height to the piece. The vase is tapered by adding a strip to the inside of the previous coil as the artist works toward the top of the vase. The seams are smoothed using a damp sponge.
  
  

Abstract Decorative Ceramics

• Traditional ceramic artists worked on a small scale, while contemporary artists produce large pieces that evoke strong responses from viewers and are much desired by collectors. The large-scale works of John Mason, Stephen De Staebler, Viola Frey and Peter Vouklos reject the traditional notion of ceramics as delicate. Repetitive patterns are a common theme of contemporary abstract decorative ceramics. Form over function and the emotive value are critical elements of abstract decorative ceramic art.