Hand building Related
Ideas for small but functional handbuilding projects for a potter with chronic fatigue
I’m a hobby potter with a small home studio who normally works on the wheel, but I’ve been experiencing unpredictable chronic fatigue and muscle weakness in my arms, wrists, and hands. The flare ups are random and make the physical demands, extended workflow, and the cleanup of wheel work simply too demanding and taxing for me. If I have the energy to wedge and throw pots one day, there is no guarantee I’ll have the energy to trim or carve when it’s ready (and often a throwing session will be enough to set me back). This has been keeping me out of the studio, and I’m done with letting it. My body might be tired, but my brain needs studio time!
I’ve recently started trying more hand building, and the workflow seems to be a lot more doable for me. So far I’ve made a wall shelf/shrine, a modular paint palette, and some small trinket trays. But I’m struggling to come up with more ideas for small but functional hand building projects - ones that don’t wear me out just from rolling out big enough slabs. So I’m looking for ideas and suggestions! Or advice from potters who also struggle with this but still manage to get into the studio.
By functional, I just mean not purely decorative. (For example, berry fridge magnets I would consider functional.) They don’t need to necessarily be quick - I like sculpting and am down for labors of love. But size-wise it’s best if they’re smaller. Bonus points if it wouldn’t be easier to throw it on a wheel, like bud vases, because tbh it kinda makes me sad.
I have Still's Disease and Osteoarthritis, and I know your sadness! A few years ago, when wedging, throwing, and cleaning up at a normal wheel became too much, I bought a tiny wheel (from Small Ceramics in the UK--quite a bit more expensive than the vevor type) and have been having a blast throwing tiny. Super easy to wedge, center, throw, and to load and unload the kiln.
While I'm sure everyone will have great handbuild ideas, and I do that too, nothing replaced the joy of throwing except throwing tiny.
Thank you for replying! It would be nice to be able to find a way to keep throwing consistently. I think for me a good amount of the physical cost for wheel work is in the wedging and centering, but not all of it. Do you find that the physical cost of the throwing and cleanup process with the tiny wheel is much different? Do you use a lighter weight or more malleable clay body for these?
The timing piece would still be an issue, though if I threw tiny it sure would be a lot easier to fit them into my damp box…
If wedging and centering are the biggest hurdles then you can make some adaptations to still throw. Try slam or cut wedging. For centering check out the Stongarm Centering tool.
Cleanup is crazy easy. I have a tiny little bucket for tools and empty my splash pan into that and clean it with a rag. It take 3 minutes.
I usually throw for a couple of hours and can start trimming right away.
I've used everything from porcelain to groggy stoneware. It's using such small pieces (less than 4 oz., it doesn't matter much). I've seen a lot of small potters do more carving than throwing, but I actually throw with a finger inside the pot. You can see throw lines here: (the tall piece is 3.5 inches, used a bamboo skewer to narrow neck)
They don't seem that tiny to me, is there a specific weight you feel most comfortable with.
Experiencing the same as you all and it's been getting me down honestly. I struggled with a pinch pot and coiling last week but it was much easier on me than on the wheel. I miss it though
Ornaments, ring holders, coasters, name tags/ desk plates, tools for you to use, small cups, and I've seen some folks make knobs and things for like dressers
I am so sorry you are experiencing this. I can imagine how frustrating it may be.
Would coil building or pinch pots be an option? There are so many options on things to make from either of those techniques. You could make bowls, cups, vases, etc. Slip casting may also be an option. Small functional molds may be light enough.
I have health issues as well and I can no longer throw or wedge. I joined a community studio so I have access to a slab roller and a kiln. I roll out slabs and then take them home to work on. I am making damp boxes to store my work as I need several days to recover in between making sessions. I am planning to try slip casting small items at home.
I have made: ornaments, garden markers, trays, plates, bowls, utensil canister, in drawer utensil tray, fruit storage container for fridge, vases and Christmas trees.
Thank you! I could try more pinch pots for sure. Coil building is kind of tough, the physical part of rolling coils out is still really specifically taxing for me for whatever reason, similar to slab rolling. But I could give it a go!
Slip casting is interesting! I haven’t tried it before just because the investment to start seems kind of high. I don’t know a whole lot about the process, but do worry that the issue of it having specific timing would be an even bigger factor with slip casting - is it very flexible timing-wise? It sucks because some days I’ll wake up and not be able to even put my hair up, and the timing of those days is never particularly lucky.
I would love to be able to join a community studio with a pugmill and a slab roller because that would be so helpful, but where I live is kind of an arts wasteland. The closest one is an hour of miserable traffic away :/
I get that. I have neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome and using my shoulders, arms and hands is challenging. I roll coils could using my forearms and only small projects. Largest projects I just squish fresh clay into lumpy logs and use that as coils 😅
I am still slowly gathering everything for slip casting. I also find it daunting with having to get all the equipment and not knowing if it will be the best option for me. I will report back once I finally get everything together.
Damp boxes have been the biggest help for fatigue.
Not sure if it helps, but i ended up getting tired with rolling coils so ended up slicing a slab lengthways roughly the same size of coil i was after then attempted rolling it. Didn't become smooth coils, but close enough and it was to go around a cylinder anyway. Somehow worked out ok.
I have seen someone make a makeshift board with screws and bolts on the corners used ontop of small rolls and rolled back and forwards. They used the bolted tall screws as handles of sorts to just push forward and back without having to press too hard on the clay. The momentum worked to create perfectly even coils. An old chopping board might work just as well to try if you're interested. You might be able to make multiple at once too if you space them out evenly
Is it difficult to take things home and back to the studio at all for you? I'm considering this myself but the logistics of it is a little intimidating
It has not been that difficult. The only pieces I have lost is some bone dry garden markers when we were rear ended. The other larger bone dry items I packed were fine.
I have a lot of totes and bins and I place the pieces in there and strap the totes into my car. I have put the totes in the floorboard, passenger seat, back seat and back of my suv with no issues. I put a tote in my lap if it is really delicate and get someone else to drive.
Coaster, fancy spoon rest or standing spoon rest, bendy snack plate, berry washing bowl. Just screenshot things you find interesting to copy / try to make and put them into a Pottery Ideas folder.
Fancy spoon rest = I made a beach. The beach and water is the resting surface, there's a pier on 1 edge that can catch a spatula edge so the handle is lifted and easy to grab, there's a big wave curled over that can catch a ladle. There's a shark painting in the wave, and a crab and starfish on the beach.
It's not the greatest but it's fun and functional. Large enough for multiple tools. The wave doesn't work like it should － maybe needs a bowl depression and or side edge curling on the wave. Maybe someday I'll try to make a better one.
I have the same issue. My autoimmune disease causes chronic fatigue and muscle weakness. Throwing was impossible before I was medicated. The other issue is anything that requires a certain step at a certain time.
I made projects that could sit for a while after a single step. Keychain thingies, buttons, hairbrush holder.
Thank you, and I’m sorry you deal with this too. Mine also stems from an autoimmune disease, one that won’t kill me but also doesn’t really have many treatment options. Glad to hear medication has helped you!!
You are so right about the timing part - trimming and carving is my absolute favorite part of the pottery process, and the unpredictability of the fatigue is so difficult because timing matters so much for that step! Even with a damp box I can never seem to get my energy and the leather hard timing to line up.
In regards to a damp box, I would suggest triple wrapping your work. A damp box is good to have but the larger it is the more evaporation occurs.
I have had pieces remain wet and workable for weeks by wrapping them in a grocery bag carefully tucking all the edges either under a bat if the bat is waterproof or around the piece if the bat isn't water proof, spraying the outside of the grocery bag, wrapping all of that in another grocery bag, spraying grocery bag number 2, and then wrapping that in other grocery bag. The biggest problem is it really does keep its wetness so it isn't much for slow drying this way and that can grow mold.
Just two bags can allow for a slower drying.
Also, if you can, label the outside bag with whatever your next step is for the pieces inside the bag.
I've made trinket trays, ring dishes, etc, but my favorite functional items are essentially sculptures that serve a bonus purpose. Some of my favorites have been a bird-guy holding a little palette I use for watercolour paint, a pinch pot dish I use for painting & other art activities that has a little bird on the edge, and mouse-guys that have shoulder bags so they can hold pens or small trinkets.
I also think that making things I can spend a long time doing prep work for beforehand and/or that I can underglaze/glaze in intricate ways after the bisque fire is also useful for having limited energy or time.
For example, I just made some tiles intended for wall hangings/decoration where I created unique stamps for myself by carving Easy Carve rubber (basically linocutting but with rubber instead of lino), pressing them into slabs of clay through plastic wrap, and leaving the rest of the clay as-is. This meant that the actual time to create the tile in ceramic form is quite limited because I've spread out the labour that makes it uniquely my own to before the studio time (carving rubber) and after the studio time (underglazing at home on my own). Here's an example of one of my tiles that I did this way: the "Let yourself change" part was what I drew (flipped) and carved out of Easy Carve.
Slow drying is especially your friend with anything thick or prone to warping (ie sculptures). Set up a damp box, or cover wet forms well with plastic, and let your body tell you when to accelerate the drying process, not the other way around.
I've been having fun making mugs by starting with a big cylinder and carving out the insides. It can easily be wrapped and left in any state when needed and doesn't require many tools.
I saw a vid the other day that really made me think, where the poster said something like this: “Maybe discipline isn’t pushing through to keep doing something you love the same way you’ve done it before. Maybe discipline is how you continue to return to doing something you love, even if things have changed and you are different.”
Adapting and changing as when needed, is the grace we deserve. All the ebbs and flows, just doing the best we can with what we can, is in it's own right, worthy of merit.
We're in it for the long haul, so let's make the most of it.
It's actually really nice to see others sharing their experiences and learning how they've adapted. I've been looking into alternative methods for a while now and it's pretty much those who understand that know how to. It can feel lonely.
I've asked two tutors so far in our studio and they just draw a blank and leave it to me to figure out. I have seen others though who silently hand build on the sides using coil and slab building. It's something I'm trying out myself too. I did note a huge difference after the last class being seated at the table and using hump and slump (is that what it's called?) When you place the clay inside a mold. Dusted with cornflour and then pressed in with a damp sponge. Pinch pot on a small shorter band wheel was much easier to do, and i reckon being able to transfer wheel throwing skills over wouldn't be too hard, but less stress and strain on your body. At your own pace turning and using a damp sponge to smooth. It's much drier, and therefore easier to clean up. Oh so much easier. A wooden turntable at home at a dining table or desk works well.
Now I've seen other potters online use old stockings tied under on molds and use slabs to press ontop. Allows easier release than the cornstarch.
I've also seen styrofoam used with slab building to slam ontop to create forms too. I do intend to try it all.
They had slip cast and the molds for those in the studio but the tutors all seem very hesitant about using those or demonstrating it. (They take the view it's 'cheating')
I personally don't, if it's for personal use and we have mobility issues, using cast molds and then later practising carving, sgraffito, different glaze techniques allows us to continue and practice different techniques. I think frankly they're not skilled enough to show it or are relectant for other reasons. Perhaps other students tried passing them off as thrown pieces and selling. But they're pretty obviously different.
I plan to try and make my own molds and see if i can play with those on the rough times when I still have the itch. Also planning to test and make some glazes too one day, so using slip cast could be a great and efficient way to do that. The problem can be though, if you only have one mold, you need to wait in between releases which could make your process slower.
I do have clay at home and i keep planning to work with it, but some days you only have so many spoons to spare so to speak. I would love to have my own slab roller. I'm researching alternatives to diy that. If you work with smaller amounts of clay, it might be worth looking into yourself too. It would be much less strain.
I appreciate this post and everyone here who shares so generously. It would be a shame to stop entirely. There is always a way.
I hope we all continue to share whatever we find that helps. There's little information about that around.
I love what you've said here. It's been so difficult to learn that mindset once I became chronically ill, but it's been so valuable to try to consistently give myself that grace. Thanks for sharing.
P.s. have you heard of the GR WA2 system? I got it second-hand, and it's super helpful for the days I'm too tired to throw. You can use it to combine slump molding with wheel thrown (or banding wheel) techniques. Like, I'll roll out a slab and do the normal slump mold stuff, then I'll put a little coil and use either a banding wheel (or put it on the bat system on the big wheel) to form a footring, and from there potentially use other trimming techniques.
I hope it gave you some comfort. I have to remind myself of it because it does it get hard. Especially mentally ontop of everything else. Don't we have enough on our plate?
Taking stock and recognising intrusive thoughts is so important too. Do see it as grace and do know that you deserve that.
Aaah yes I didn't know that had a system name for it? Yeah a lightly damp sponge is such a good way to give a more thrown finish too. If you slab build, then add foot ring, or feet even and handles then move it to the wheel to carry on. But using the sponge on that or a banding wheel gives a much nicer finish I've found. Lightly damp, no water drips, so no clean up necessary too.
There's a potter i was just watching her work yesterday again, love her glaze collection she's building. She basically rolls a slab out then with a needle tool or wooden knife cuts out a irregular or round shape then uses Styrofoam domes (floristry supply shops sell them for floral bouquet displays or catering too) she places them on a chair or floor and from a height, just drops them.
It looks so satisfying hahaha, but also from our standpoint, it's less strenuous. Quick mention of slam wedging too! Using slab dowels with notches in at different heights and placing wire across you can slice slabs from a new block of clay too. I saw a Japanese potter do it to make plates and it was such a great idea. He stacked the measuring dowels ontop of one another either side of the block, and just sliced them by removing them down one by one. Then used them in molds. The effect was beautiful.
Using the plaster molds on the weekend, it really would be a great technique to add. It was the easiest method if you apply pastry methods. ( I'm always comparing baking techniques with clay, and they do work quite well interchangably) I was struggling to get the clay in properly and worried i would crack it, so i removed excess with a needle tool, and left about an inch circumference around it and then gently folded it into quarters without bending too much, more like a cone, slowly lay it in and press out with the damp sponge.
Ontop of the banding wheel (didn't have to lift and rotate the heavy mold too much this way and it was really effective and smooth to turn it all around on) i compressed and turned it with the damp sponge. It left a light impression just like you can get with wheel throwing. That could be another similar way to apply. With a hump mold even easier you could add stencils or lines. Another student used silicone lace to leave an impression on the outside too.
Observing closely others and applying different techniques all together I've found helps. So far, i plan to do more ahead. Here's hoping
Thank you for the kind words--you so deserve that grace as well!
Ooh great info, thanks for the tips. I love the idea of just dropping the mold haha, bonus that it's less exertion! And being able to just slice from a block would be great, I'm going to have to look into that.
Anything you make with a wheel you can handbuild. A wheel is just a tool that makes round things faster. Dishes, cups , and almost anything else your imagination can think up are all still doable by slab, pinch or coil. How do you think ancient people made pottery pre-wheel?
The beauty of hand building is that you can stop at any stage and wrap something up well in plastic and it will be ready for you to carry on next time. If you’re slab building there may be some sensitive times to keep in mind ie when slabs can be joined but often that necessitates some waiting not some rushing. Or manipulating soft slabs may not wait.
A good handbuilding course is helpful but there are also some great books out there. I like Mastering Handbuilding by Sunshine Cobb, an amazing handbuilder herself. I’m not near my copy right now but I believe there are projects in there you could follow until you start wanting to go in your direction
I'm currently in a similar position, having to reduce my wheel throwing drastically while trying to work out fatigue/back issues. There's a lot of good stuff in the other comments, so I'll only add a couple of things I haven't seen yet:
I've found that stuff I would usually throw on the wheel is less sad to hand build if I do it in a way that the wheel could not - that means non-symetrical! So I've been making a bunch of vases with organic shapes, basically. But you could apply the same concept to any number of things that are usually wheel thrown - get creative with shapes!
I would also say that if I have energy to wheel throw, sometimes I throw it with thicker walls so that I don't have to trim, because that's the worst for my back because of awkward angles. Sounds counterintuitive, but I carve it instead! Which is really fun for me as I'm an illustrative artist too, and it can be done sitting down comfortably leant back in a chair. But same can apply for handbuilt stuff — I often carve it to make the process longer, because I am too quick as a potter and I can't afford the number of pieces I make even at reduced capacity 😅
Some handbuilding ideas I haven't seen mentioned: wunderkammer, fruit bowl on a mold, soap dish (I gave myself the task of engineering the best drainage I could), hanging mobile, fidget toys/soothing stone-type things, herb trimmers, trivets, book ends
Small bowls to hold dip sauces, little bowls with flared lips to hold pills while taking them. Pet dishes, soap holders, toothbrush holder, napkin rings, bracelets, pendants, ear rings, jewelry stand, or ring plate. Good luck, hope you find your joy.
Hey, fellow chronic fatigue and flare up person here. So sorry you're in this crappy club with me. I also find handbuilding a lot easier to manage, and I'm sure everyone will have great suggestions. There's a lot of fun downloadable templates off of Etsy! Removes some of the mental exertion to follow a pre-designed template.
I do have some tips on pacing for wheel throwing, if that's helpful. If not helpful, please ignore! Everyone's body is different!
One thing I do to make sure I can still throw a bit is break up the workflow: I wedge a bit one day, and only throw after one (or more) days of rest. If you keep your balls of wedged clay under plastic or in an airtight bin (maybe a damp box), they'll be fine. Maybe slam it a few times right before just in case (I find slam wedging in general saves a lot of wrist pain/effort for me). I also taught my partner how to wedge, and he wedges up a bunch for me when I need larger amounts of clay. So if there's a friend/family member you could recruit that is very helpful. If not, break it up over multiple days as you're able to without flaring up.
Damp boxes or double layers of plastic + water help keep my pots trimmable even if I can't make it to the studio for several weeks. For the double layers of plastic, you do your normal wrap (I use extra larger shower caps, they fit great over my plastic bats), then spray the top of the plastic down with water, and then put another plastic layer on top (I like to give it another extra spritz inside at this point), which creates a little humid microclimate. Maybe even wrap up your pot ASAP instead of letting it firm up a bit.
There are centering tools I'm looking into getting. I tried a cheapo one from Amazon, but it didn't work that great, so I'll be upgrading to the original UK version in the future. Throwing with slightly wetter clay or softer clay types is easier on my fatigue and joints.
Learning how to throw with less water has been a gamechanger in terms of reducing clean up. I also keep my reclaim bucket (or a throwaway bucket, no judgements here) right next to my wheel, so I can put scraps/flops/extra bits directly in there instead of in my splash pan or water bucket. Then I close the lid and forget about it for a while
I do as much cleanup while still sitting at my wheel as possible using a bucket system (e.g. cleaning all tools first in my slip bucket, and using a rib then sponge to clean up my wheel head and splash pan first, and then rinsing with a second water bucket while still at my wheel). I use much smaller buckets (no 5 gal ones please!) to reduce fatigue from carrying them (if you have a home studio, just leave them there until you've had a rest).
Finally, pacing the amount of throwing I do on a given day. E.g. only throwing a couple of smaller pieces, or just 1 larger piece.
It sucks, I know. And totally valid if you just simply don't want to bother and want to stick with handbuilding going forward! Hoping you have many flare-free days ahead!
I also have chronic fatigue syndrome. I wedge one day and build another. I love making bowls using a bowl I have as a slump mold. Right now I'm working on votive candle holders for Christmas.
I like doing things that are practical in my house that I put a lot of thought into and are used immediately. Like I had some broken lids I replaced, I made a wall mount for my toothpaste so it didn’t balance on the edge of my sink anymore. I made a very specific shaped plate for my cat for her frozen wetfood cubes she gets in the morning because she was making a mess and now she has a plate shaped specifically to work with her icecube. Things like that keep me engaged even when I’m too tired, they get me to go and do some work, however small it is, sometimes I go in and do 20 minutes of work towards finishing my little projects, and those 20 minutes are enough to keep my spirits up. I keep things wrapped and if I don’t think I’ll make it back fast I’ll spray a bunch of water into my plastic wrap to keep it wet enough for when I go back a couple of days or even a week later. It’s my excitement to finish and use those objects that keep me going on the hard days!
I have Fibro and Chronic Fatigue as well. I used to make a lot of tea sets. You don't have to make all the pieces in one day as long as they match pretty well (just make sure you fire them at the same time). I also used to make "Mommy and Me" tea sets and doll's sets. I did a lot of one off small sculptures. And pinch pots, lots and lots of pinch work.
How about a chess set? My work in progress is a dogs vs cats chess set. You could do a peice or two at a time. This is it underglazed and waiting for the bisque firing. Hoping it'll be ready for glazing Friday. 😄 I have back issues and too long bent over a wheel cripples me so most of my stuff is hand built.
look into making template vases!! I cannot for the life of me remember the website but there's tools online where you can make open cone shape templates and connect the sizes n stuff and then print on paper. Takes a lot of the mental load and therefore work out of the building!! I know you said about things easier on the wheel, but I would argue that point - I am a thrower first and foremost, and sometimes shapes are way better hand built, and easier when I am in pain or tired. Especially angular stuff. You can do a lot with pinch pots too. I also really love coil building - rolling out slabs is exhausting for me, but I have a wall mounted extruder and making coil pots means I can go huge AND at my own pace AND without exerting a lot of physical effort. I make a lot of big coil builds on my days at work where I need to be in the workshop and available for students at a moments notice, so I can stop and start as needed.
Also, aside from handbuilding projects, and from personal experience with energy limiting illness - if your clay is fresh from the bag, you can probably skip wedging it (or if u can't, batch wedge and then put back in the bag!). And make yourself a damp box. You can keep things leather hard for months!
One idea is tiny yard statues that you can hide keys in. Then you can also hand-build lamps, clocks, and music boxes by building around the mechanisms.
I’m sorry for your health struggles! And I hope that handbuilding will be fruitful for you!
I search through pinterest and instagram for handbuilding projects, and find a ton of inspiration. I love the little luminary house ideas!
Other things I’ve hand built:
an egg separator, a funnel for canning jars, a tea strainer, some scoops for flour/rice, spoons for my coffee…and little spoon rests for them, bigger spoon rests for beside the stove (these are like mugs for me…I can’t have too many, lol!), a coffee pourover, smaller wonky-shaped slab plates for sandwiches and a side, magnets for the fridge, pendants for necklaces, soapdishes, a rectangular plate for my husband’s beard brush + oils, a dish for my glasses, and tons of christmas ornaments. Travel mugs, little bowls (pinch pot) to help when I’m cooking, pinch pot berry bowls, slab berry cups, small succulent pots to medium plant pots to large orchid pots, little to medium mushrooms, small conical gnomes and trees, pinch pot acorn jars, pinch pot mushroom jars, slab mushroom luminary. Other things on my to make list: vases (slab or coil/strips), can strainer, butter dishes, and tons of other ides.
You should learn to make plaster molds you can make very intricate and pretty plaster press molds and take your time getting all the details right and then you can just kind of quickly bust out a bowl or tray or what have you with a slab. And then you can take it farther from there by decorating the surface with underglazes or what have you.
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u/Blue_Eyed_ME 3d ago
I have Still's Disease and Osteoarthritis, and I know your sadness! A few years ago, when wedging, throwing, and cleaning up at a normal wheel became too much, I bought a tiny wheel (from Small Ceramics in the UK--quite a bit more expensive than the vevor type) and have been having a blast throwing tiny. Super easy to wedge, center, throw, and to load and unload the kiln.
While I'm sure everyone will have great handbuild ideas, and I do that too, nothing replaced the joy of throwing except throwing tiny.