Hand-building Pottery Projects & Ideas
Explore over 60 inspiring pottery hand-building projects and ideas, each illustrated with images and often linked to step-by-step lessons. These projects are perfect for students, teachers, beginners, and ceramic artists looking to develop or teach clay-building skills. Lessons include how to make coil pots, pinch pots, slab vases, sgraffito surfaces, wall art, animal planters, textured vessels, and sculptural forms. Whether you're building in a classroom or studio, this gallery will spark creativity and help you master essential clay techniques.
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Sculpted planters - clay coil pot lesson
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Owl planters - clay coil pot lesson |

Clay wide opening vase - clay slab lesson |

Wheat design boxes - clay slab lesson |

Quilted teapot hand-building project - clay quilting lesson
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Quilted pocketbook project - clay quilting lesson
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Leaves impression mirror project - Impressing pattern in clay lesson
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Leaves impression mirror project - Impressing pattern in clay lesson |

Pinch pot technique - faces rattles
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Clay quilted tray - clay quilting lesson
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Textured vase - see lesson
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Clay box pottery projects ideas - hand-building - clay slab lesson
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Patty at work - hand-building pottery - see more about Patty Storms
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Starfish box with lid - see lesson |

Large elephant project - Hump soft mold-drop method handbuilding lesson
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Quilted clay ceramic purses |

Fish candle holders
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Carved clay boxes projects
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Leaves impression triple chamber vase |

Coil basket - see lesson |

Sgraffito vase -Sgraffit lesson |

Bonsai round planter
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Bonsai round planter |

Ceramic shoe - See Lesson |

Sgraffito pottery vase - Sgraffit lesson |
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Sgraffito Potter Bowl - salmon |
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Pagoda lantern
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Pagoda lantern rear
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Pagoda lantern
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Pagoda lantern set
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Multimedia handles ideas
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Coiled basket |

Turtle jar
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Turtle jar - bottom lantern
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Textured vase |

Lizard vase |

Leaves vase
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Turtle lantern
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Rear opening - turtle lantern |

Hand built pitchers with leaves design
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Hand build pitchers and jar |

Octopus platter - see it glazed |

Hand-building carved incense jar project
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Twisted pots ideas |

Starfish box with lid - see lesson |
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Frog butter dish project
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Green man |

Octopus vase - hand-building advanced project (Cannoli, the cat, is great help) Click
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Octopus vase
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Fish bowl |

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Garlic keeper on garlic grinder saucer
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Garlic keeper with lid |

Garlic keeper with lid
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Lidded garlic keeper |

Pinch pots technique - pears |

Fish Sgraffito technique |

Sectioned top "winged" modern vase
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In the studio building a new idea
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Three sections Sgraffito vase |
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Sgraffito teapot project |

Fish Sgraffito technique, large vase
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Bird house |

Bird wren house
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Fly through bird feeder |

Bird houses |

Bird feeder |

Bird house |

Shoulder bottles |

Boxes with lids |

Teapots |

Sgraffito starfish
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Round container |

Round container |

Bird slab vases |

Basket weaving - extruded clay |
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Extruded containers
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Clay crab hand-building project |

Coil pots |

Sea urchin candle holder |

Coil plate / platter |

Ali Baba coil pots |

Square colander |

Rectangle colander
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Oval colander with handles |

Round colander |

Square box with lid |

Set of berry bowls |

Rectangle box with lid |

Rectangle box with lid |

Box collection |

Plate leaf impression - texture lesson |

Box with cut lid |

Box with cut lid - keyed |

Pinch pot hedgehog - see lesson
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Pinch pot hedgehog - glazed |

Sugar bowl |

Sugar bowl |

Lantern assortment |

Covered pots |

Bird shape vases- slab construction
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Impressed leaves - see texture lesson |

Carved lanterns |

Leaves bowl |

Leaves bowl |

Lizard vases - see lesson |

Clay Totem pole |

Tall pitcher |

Carved Terra Cotta pot |

Large vase / trophy - see lesson |

Creamer |

Pumpkin set |

Pumpkin set glazed |

Ring Bearer bowl |

Lizard box with lid |

Nature stamped vases |

Flying teapot
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Sgraffito vases - See lesson |

Sgraffito octopus bowl |

Curved Sgraffito vases -Sgraffito lesson |

Long serving tray |

Vase with hole through |

Portrait sculptures |

Terra Cotta sun |

Terra Cotta sun |

Turtle front view |

Turtle side view |

Turtle bottom view |

Turtle side view close up |

Wall hung font / basket - see lesson |

Carved font - see lesson
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Walrus |

Walrus |

Carved pottery vase |

Small bottles |

Water cane |

Vase with texture front |

Clay pumpkins |

Hand built Tagine |

Chicken roaster |

Fish carved lantern
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Elephant soft mold - see lesson |

"Pet Project" with a lot of help |

Quilted clay ceramic purses |

High heeled clay shoe wine holder
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