Post #538711 by MadDogMike on Thu, Jun 24, 2010 11:56 AM

Weitz, here's the plan for a basic mug;

The clay you use will depend on the kiln and glazes you have available, check and see what they are using in your ceramics department. There are hundreds of clay mixes that all have different characteristics,

Use a rolling pin to roll the clay out into an even thickness slab. A piece of 3 inch ABS or PVC pipe about 8 inches long makes a good form. Wrap a sheet of newspaper around it, then wrap the clay around the newspaper. Score and slip the seam and work the edges together well. Set the cylinder on a slab of clay and cut around it to make a bottom. Score and slip the bottom and attach it well to the clay cylinder.

Let dry for a while (maybe an hour) until slightly firm, slide the pipe out of the mug and remove the paper. Now you have a blank mug form that you can add clay to or carve into. When you are finished sculpting, let it dry slowly over several days by wrapping it loosely in a plasic bag.

When COMPLETELY dry (no longer cool to the touch) it can be bisque fired, glaze brushed, dipped, or sprayed on, and then glaze fired.

This is, of course, an oversimplification - but it will give you a starting point. It is one of those things best learned from watching and doing, not from reading; make a friend in the ceramic department who can help you out :)