Post #817852 by MadDogMike on Mon, Feb 2, 2026 10:32 PM

Working on a simple ceramic "BOMB!" mug. Nothing elaborate, more of a visual gag or drink presentation (more on that later). Step by step descriptions in the photo captions.

One of my favorite techniques is to roll out slabs of clay and form them over objects. Can be pre-made forms like a bottle or this Styrofoam ball. Sometimes I'll carve my shape out of foam or 3D print an object to cover. I cover the object with a couple layers of damp tissue paper so the clay releases easily

Clay wrapped around the ball and smoothed out

A "foot" added to the bottom to make it stable

Once the clay has dried and firmed a bit, I cut around the middle and pull the halves apart. You can see the brown tissue paper

The foam ball removed and the pieces test fitted together. The lid cut out.

The inside is cleaned of any tissue paper and smoothed. The edges of the clay are scored and brushed with slip (water thinned clay) so they will stick.

Edges pushed together and fused together with a needle tool

Then the outside smoothed again

While the halves were apart, I added a lip around the hole so the lid wouldn't fall in

A fuse holder on top and straw hole. A center seam and some rivets for visual interest. Up next, as the clay hardens it can be smoothed and cleaned up more.

Added some details like screws and a center seam. Pained on dark gray and black underglaze and fired

Then brushed it with clear gloss glaze (goes on green but fires to clear)

Finished!

And here's a video of it in use with me and Phineas
https://youtu.be/VJT_EH9a6D4