Clay is a natural material that can be shaped and fired to create a variety of ceramic art forms, such as pots, sculptures, tiles and more. However, not all pottery clays are alike. Different types of clay have different properties, such as color, texture, plasticity, porosity and firing temperature. Knowing the differences between these types of clay will help me choose the right one for my project and achieve the best possible results.
In this article, I’m going to take a quick look at the 3 main types of clay: earthenware, stoneware and porcelain, then go on to consider the decorative techniques that exist on ceramics, and finally put them into practice to see the results. For example, how do you transfer watercolor techniques to ceramics? Is this possible? If so, how? A whole empirical experimental process, often hazardous, in short, fascinating!
The term “faïence” immediately brings to mind my grandparents’ plates with their colored decoration on a white background, such as blue. 
Earthenware is one of the oldest and most common types of clay, with a reddish, brownish, grayish or even black color. It’s easy to work with and has great plasticity, which means it can be molded and shaped easily by hand or with the famous potter’s wheel. It has a low baking temperature of between 950 and 1150°C, which means it can be baked in an ordinary electric oven and requires little energy. The problem is that earthenware is porous and fragile, so it absorbs water and can break easily. So to make it more durable and waterproof, I’ll have to glaze it to vitrify the clay.
In terms of manufacturing, I’ll be able to make decorative objects, such as pots of all kinds (flowers, spices, etc.), vases, figurines, tiles, etc., and utilitarian functional objects such as cups, bowls, plates, dishes, etc.
Stoneware is also easy to work with because it is so plastic. It has a buff, beige or gray color and a smooth, dense texture. It is more durable and less porous than earthenware, as it vitrifies or becomes glass-like when fired.
Its firing temperature is higher than that of earthenware, up to 1200-1300°C. It has the advantage of being more resistant to thermal shock and can withstand higher temperatures. As it is vitrified when cooked, it is very suitable for use in cooking and baking, as well as for serving and storing food. Same level of manufacture as the earthenware.
This leaves hard porcelain, i.e. kaolin.
So I’m going to focus my apprenticeship on earthenware and stoneware for my creative projects.
To be followed by different decorating techniques with concrete examples.
