Practice exercises

134 hands-on studio challenges from the Claybook curriculum. Each exercise gives you a clear brief, success criteria, and tips. Read the assignment here, then open the app to track your progress and photograph your results.

Level 1: Preparing Your Clay

Why We Wedge

Slice and check for air bubblesEasy
Wedge two different clays togetherMedium

Spiral Wedging Technique

Ram's Head Wedging Technique

Ram's head wedge 500 gEasy
Ram's head wedge 1 kgMedium

Weighing & Storing

Weigh and bag a set of throwing ballsEasy

Level 1: Handbuilding Basics

The Pinch Pot Method

Make a basic pinch pot (250 g)Easy
Three pinch pots in one sessionMedium
Join two pinch pots into a hollow sphereHard

Coil Building: Creating Height

Roll even coilsEasy
Build a coil cylinder (15 cm tall)Medium
Coil build a curved vase (20 cm)Hard

Soft Slab Construction

Roll an even slabEasy
Drape a soft slab bowlMedium

Hard Slab Construction

Build a hard slab boxMedium
Build a slab planter with drainage holeHard

Scoring & Slipping

Score and slip test joinsEasy
Attach a decorative element to a slabMedium

Level 2: Conquering the Wheel

Wheel Anatomy

Set up and start the wheelEasy

Coning Up & Down

Cone up and down (300 g)Easy
Cone up and down (500 g, five reps)Medium

Centering the Clay

Opening the Center

Open a centered mound (300 g)Easy
Open and widen (500 g)Medium

The First Pull

Throw a short cylinder (200 g)Easy
Throw a cylinder (300 g, ~10 cm)Medium
Throw a taller cylinder (500 g, ~15 cm)Hard

Compressing the Lip

Compress the rim on three cylindersEasy

Wobbly Cylinders

Diagnose and correct a wobbleMedium
Throw five cylinders without wobbleHard

Level 2: Shaping & Forming

Throwing a Bowl

Throwing a Mug Body

Throw a mug body (350 g)Easy
Throw four matching mug bodiesHard

Throwing a Flat Plate

Throw a small plate (500 g)Medium
Throw a dinner plate (750 g)Hard

Using Ribs

Level 3: Trimming & Refining

Leather-Hard Stage

Identify the leather-hard stageEasy

Lugs & Giffin Grips

Center a pot upside-down with clay lugsEasy

Loop Tools & Knives

Cylinder Foot Ring

Trim a foot ring on a cylinderMedium
Trim matching foot rings on three mugsHard

Bowl Foot Ring

Trim a foot ring on a bowlMedium
Trim a wide shallow bowl foot ringHard

Burnishing and Surface Smoothing

Burnish a small pot with a spoonMedium
Burnish a pot to mirror sheenStretch

Level 3: Handles, Spouts & Lids

Pulling a Handle

Attaching Handles

Pouring Spouts

Measuring for Lids

Drop Lids & Galleries

Throw a drop lidMedium
Throw three jars with interchangeable lidsStretch

Level 4: Surface Decoration (Pre-Bisque)

Carving, Fluting, and Faceting

Applying Underglazes

Sgraffito: Scratching Through Slip

Coat and scratch a test tileEasy
Sgraffito design on a bowl exteriorMedium
Full sgraffito panel on a vaseStretch

Mishima: Inlaying Slip

Carve and inlay a test tileMedium
Mishima pattern on a plate rimHard

Slip Trailing for 3D Texture

Slip trail lines on a test tileEasy
Slip trail a decorative pattern on a potMedium
Combine slip trailing with sgraffitoStretch

Level 4: The First Bake: Bisque Firing

Bone Dry

Dry a pot properly to bone dryEasy
Dry a plate without warpingMedium

Kiln Furniture

Set up a practice shelf with postsEasy

Loading a Bisque Kiln

Plan a bisque load on paperEasy
Load a bisque kilnMedium

Bisque Firing Schedule

Program a bisque firing scheduleMedium

Unloading Bisqueware

Inspect bisqueware for defectsEasy

Level 5: Glazing 101

Glaze Safety & PPE

Set up your glazing station with PPEEasy

Wax Resist Application

Wax the foot ring of a bisque potEasy
Create a wax resist patternMedium

Dipping with Tongs

Pouring Glaze

Pour glaze inside a mugEasy
Pour glaze over a bowl exteriorMedium

Brushing Glazes

Level 5: The Final Bake: Glaze Firing

Pyrometric Cones

Set witness cones in a cone packEasy

Loading a Glaze Kiln

Plan a glaze kiln loadEasy
Load a glaze kiln with proper clearanceMedium

Oxidation vs. Reduction

Fire test tiles in oxidationMedium
Compare oxidation and reduction resultsStretch

Common Glaze Faults

Identify glaze faults on fired piecesEasy
Fix a crazing issueHard

Kiln Shelf Grinding

Grind drips off a kiln shelfEasy

Level 6: Advanced Throwing Techniques

Throwing off the Hump

Collaring & Narrow Necks

Sectional Throwing for Large Pots

Throw two sections and join themHard
Build a large vase from three sectionsStretch

Throwing Doughnut Forms

Throw a closed doughnut formHard

Altering Thrown Forms

Level 6: Alternative Firing Methods

Raku Firing

Horsehair and Obvara Firing

Pit Firing and Barrel Firing

Prepare pots for a pit or barrel firingMedium
Conduct a barrel firingHard

Wood Firing

Prepare pieces for a wood kilnMedium

Salt & Soda Firing

Level 7: Studio Mastery & Chemistry

Reclaiming Clay

Reclaim a bucket of scrap clayEasy
Reclaim and test plasticityMedium

Mixing Glaze Recipes

Making and Interpreting Test Tiles

Make a set of test tilesEasy
Run a line blend on test tilesHard
Interpret a full grid of test tilesStretch

Kiln Maintenance

Inspect and replace kiln washEasy
Inspect kiln elements or burnersMedium

Pricing Your Work

Calculate the cost of a mugEasy
Price a small collection for a marketMedium