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Pottery is the creative art of shaping or moulding damp clay into a useful or decorative shape. A non-competitive activity with high levels of therapeutic satisfaction, under-taken equally by both males and females of all ages.

Popularity
The craft of pottery is a very popular hobby and pastime throughout the world. Most people have the urge to try and throw a pot, (even if only once in their lives).

Location
An activity that can be carried out from home, but is more commonly undertaken at classes or in groups, where equipment can be provided or shared.

Age
The simple shaping of clay or plasticine, by hand is one of the first creative activities of most children. Creating items from clay is a craft that absorbs all ages, from young children to the very elderly.

Ability
Pottery is an activity that looks deceptively easy. It is very easy to create rough crude shapes, but takes a lifetime of experiance to master the many complexities of the craft. A creative and artistic aptitude is a definite advantage.

Description
Using the Potters wheel; A ball of wet clay is thrown onto the center of a rotating turntable (potters wheel), this ball of soft clay is pressed and pulled gently upwards and outwards into a hollow shape. This first step, is called centering the clay, often the most difficult skill to master before the next step. Using the hands and thumbs, Make a centered hollow into the ball of clay, drawing it up whilst shaping the walls to an even thickness. The final step is trimming to refine the shape.

Dedication
The pot is then decorated and glazed, an opportunity for all of the Potters artistic talents to be expressed. The final process is firing (drying of the clay), which makes the work permanent, and produces a hard and irreversible shape.

Potential
While there are many craft shows and competitions, at varying levels of competency. To most potters the potential is in the personal satisfaction of creating something beautiful. Many amateur potters progress to make careers from selling their POTS.

Closely Related Activities
Art (decorating the pot),Sculpture (creating new and imaginative shapes), The creative Crafts,

Cost
Plasticine or potters clay, is very inexpensive to buy, the large expenditure is equipment; A simple potters wheel may cost from £250. A simple kiln from £500.

Level of Demand
The table below shows the maximum levels of demand that this activity requires. NOTE: These are not entry levels or levels of requirement and has nothing to do with ability.

Energy

Arms

Legs

Sight

Hearing

Speech

Learning

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