Fired Up Arts

Pottery doesn’t always need more tools.

Sometimes it just needs a piece of string.

I love techniques like this because they help potters capture movement instead of removing it.

Beginner potters often chase perfection, but some of the most interesting pots still show the energy of the clay and the wheel.

Shoutout to JINO JEONG for this clever throwing technique.

Would you try this on one of your cups?

Shoutout to Fleur H.A.R for this awesome pottery hack 👏

I honestly love videos like this because they remind beginners that you do NOT need a studio packed with expensive tools to make great pottery.

Potters have been making DIY tools and studio hacks for generations. A simple terracotta pot can become a super effective trimming chuck for mugs and cups.

Don’t get me wrong… I LOVE trying all the new pottery tools coming out too 😂
But sometimes the old school methods work just as good — and way better for the budget.

This is the kind of pottery knowledge more beginners need to see 🔥

What’s your favorite DIY pottery tool or studio hack?

Bone-dry pottery is one of the most stressful stages to transport 😅

We teach at multiple locations outside our main studio, so a lot of student work has to survive the trip back for firing. I love this trick because the rice keeps pieces from shifting without adding pressure to delicate areas.

Also super helpful for potters who don’t have their own kiln and need to transport work to a community studio 👏

Such a simple idea but honestly really smart.

Shoutout to Keri Dias 🍁 for sharing this one 🙌

The claw technique is one of the fastest ways to start getting real height on your pots 👀

A lot of beginners try to pinch and force the clay upward… and that’s where things fall apart.

This breaks it down perfectly:

Open wide → grab that excess clay ring → stabilize → stay wet → move up and in

It’s simple, but when you actually apply it, everything changes.

I’ve been teaching this in my adult wheel classes and it’s been a game changer for students trying to level up their pulls.

Shoutout to .ceramics for the clean breakdown 🙌

Have you tried the claw technique yet?

Spoon rests are one of the best beginner pottery projects—and I have all my students make them every semester.

Simple form. Functional. And it teaches control fast.

I like the spiral detail here using a ball tool—I usually use my finger, but this gives a really clean, consistent look.

Now I’m switching it up…
I just got a batch of underglaze transfers, and I’m thinking flat interior + design could be 🔥

Shout out to .ceramics

What would you put on yours?

This is such a simple but powerful teaching trick.

Using a needle tool to check wall thickness isn’t new… but applying it to the side walls like this is a game changer for beginners.

Most new potters don’t yet have the feel for when the clay has been fully pulled up. They’re guessing based on height—but height doesn’t always mean even walls.

This gives them a visual and physical way to check:
• Poke the lower wall
• Compare it to the rim thickness
• If it’s thicker → keep pulling

I’m definitely using this with my students.

Shout out to Anjali | ceramic artist

What do you think—helpful or overkill?

potterylife

🚨 DRAFT VAULT WEEK IS HERE! 🚨

Over the next week I’m unlocking the draft vault and finally posting all those pottery reels that never made it out into the world.

These are reactions reels that have been sitting in the draft for months collecting digital dust.

Instead of letting them die in the vault, I’m posting them all this week.

Fair warning: there may be multiple reels a day as we work through the backlog. 😅

Drop a 🔓 in the comments if you’re ready for Draft Vault Week and let me know what kind of pottery content you hope comes out of the vault!

The plastic debate continues… 😂

This potter uses disposable hair caps to cover pots and slow down the drying process instead of using a damp box system.

I’ll admit it—it’s actually pretty clever.

The goal isn’t the hair cap itself. The goal is creating a small humidity chamber around the pot so it dries more evenly and is less likely to crack or warp.

As a pottery teacher, I appreciate creative problem solving like this. Potters have always been masters at finding unexpected uses for everyday objects.

But since we’ve been talking about plastic in the studio all week, I’m curious…

Shoutout to to Hailey Mitkoff for this great tip and reel🔥

Is this a smart studio hack or unnecessary plastic?

👇 Tell me what you think.

The plastic debate continues… 😂

This potter uses disposable hair caps to cover pots and slow down the drying process instead of using a damp box system.

I’ll admit it—it’s actually pretty clever.

The goal isn’t the hair cap itself. The goal is creating a small humidity chamber around the pot so it dries more evenly and is less likely to crack or warp.

As a pottery teacher, I appreciate creative problem solving like this. Potters have always been masters at finding unexpected uses for everyday objects.

But since we’ve been talking about plastic in the studio all week, I’m curious…

Shoutout to Hailey Mitkoff for this great tip and reel.

Is this a smart studio hack or unnecessary plastic?

👇 Tell me what you think.