What ceramics are made of and where to get materials for work
Ceramics is baked clay, which is the main material in the work of a ceramist. Unlike polymer clay, natural clay is of natural origin, it is extracted from the bowels of the earth, without undergoing chemical and other types of processing.

Experienced craftsmen, in order to save money, extract and prepare raw materials on their own. This process involves several stages and hardly deserves attention if you are just starting your journey and living in the city.

Clay for the manufacture of ceramics should be greasy and without inclusions of pebbles and other debris, otherwise the craft will crack during the baking process. The finished mass is stored under certain humidity conditions.

Natural clay comes in different types:

White is the most common, initially has a grayish tint, and after heat treatment acquires a pleasant shade of ivory.
Red - contains iron oxide, which gives the raw material a greenish tone. The main color of the raw material is brown, after firing the products turn red. It lends itself well to sculpting, does not crumble, ideal for sculptures and large products.
Porcelain - gray raw and white after baking.
Blue - more often used in cosmetology and traditional medicine.
Black or dark brown ceramic mass is the hardest clay that acquires a shade of ivory after processing in a kiln.

Also, clays for ceramics are classified according to the processing temperature into low-melting, medium-melting, refractory.

It is most convenient to buy ready-made pottery clay, focusing on the size of the fraction, color after firing at different temperatures and other characteristics and quality indicators. The cost depends on the manufacturer, packaging, invoice. There are ready-made masses with additives for the endowment of various tasks - modeling, molding, potter's wheel.

In addition to clay, you need glazes and enamels to cover products, pigments to give handmade ceramics the desired shade, special additives to improve properties and heat treatment.

For gluing parts, slip mass is used - a kind of glue made of diluted clay. If you simply connect the elements, they can fall off when heated. All this is sold in specialized stores for ceramists.

Methods of manufacturing ceramic products
There are several ways to turn a clay mass into a beautiful ceramic product.

Sculpting is the most affordable way to make ceramic products with your own hands at home. Souvenirs, sculptures, dishes, toys or other crafts are sculpted by hand, as if from plasticine, helping themselves with special stacks or improvised devices.

Pottery requires a rotating wheel. With the help of this ancient craft, vases, jugs, pots, plates, cups are still created today.

Warm-up is the easiest option for making ceramics for beginners. In the work, a gypsum mold is used, in which soft clay is laid out, and after hardening, the figured product is removed. Gypsum molds are attractive because they absorb excess moisture, helping the clay product to harden and dry.

Casting - molds are also used here, but of a different plan. The diluted clay is poured into molds, the blanks are dried, extracted and painted.

Clay craft gains strength only after firing - processing in pottery kilns at a temperature of 900 to 1300 degrees. Ready-made souvenirs are covered with acrylic paints or a special vitreous glaze for ceramics. In the case of glaze, another firing is required after dyeing.

If you want to get a natural shade, use milking - cover an unpainted baked ceramic figurine with milk in several layers and bake again at lower temperatures.

Pottery kiln - types and preferences
Previously, kilns for firing ceramics were furnaces dug in the ground and heated exclusively with firewood. Modern pottery kilns are gas, electric and wood-fired. The latter, as a rule, are made with their own hands, they are suitable for use in private households. In the conditions of the apartment, it is most convenient to work with electric furnaces, for large volumes you can choose a gas one.

The metal case of such furnaces hides refractory bricks or other material that retains heat and is not afraid of heating. Ventilation holes are provided for moisture removal, the ceramic firing process is controlled by a software regulator. Electric pottery kilns are not cheap. The price depends on the manufacturer, volume, capacity.

On sale there are models with vertical and horizontal loading and bells. According to the type of location of the heating element, pottery kilns are divided into muffle and chamber kilns. In muffles, it is located around a container made of refractory material (muffle). The chamber heater is located inside, which reduces heat loss and makes the equipment more economical.

If you try a little, you can make a kiln for firing ceramics at home with your own hands, based on refractory bricks and something for the body, for example, an old washing machine.

Baking is the most important process that does not forgive mistakes. Sometimes even experienced craftsmen see an unsuitable marriage instead of the expected masterpiece. Products are never taken out immediately, they must cool in the oven.