Handmade Pottery Making: 19 Calm Clay Builds From the Potter Whose Top Video Hit 155M Views
Handmade pottery making has a strange power over people. You start a short video about a lump of wet clay, and ten minutes later you are still watching, calm and happy, as it turns into a bowl. Nobody does this better than Florian Gadsby, a London potter with 1.86 million subscribers on YouTube. His recycled clay short alone has passed 155 million views, and he is still posting almost every day this month. A mineral glaze test he shared on October 18 reached 284,000 views in nine days. What we love most is that he shows the fails too. Below are his best loved builds with the real view counts, plus a small, safe version of each one you can try at your kitchen table with air dry clay, no kiln needed..
Handmade Pottery Making That 1.86 Million People Follow
Florian Gadsby runs a busy pottery studio in London, and his YouTube channel has grown to 1.86 million subscribers and more than 900 videos. There are no loud voices or silly music, just clay, a wheel and a steady pair of hands. He shows big jars, tiny inkwells, teapots and mugs, and he is honest when a pot falls apart. That honesty is why so many beginners feel brave enough to try. If you have ever wanted to make something real with your hands, this is a gentle place to start..
You will need: Air dry clay, a small bowl of water, a sponge, a butter knife, a rolling pin and a smooth board to work on.
How to make it: 1. Knead a lump of air dry clay until it feels soft and smooth. 2. Shape a simple bowl or cup, keeping the walls even. 3. Let it dry slowly for two days away from heat, then paint and seal it.
Pottery From Recycled Clay, His 155 Million View Hit
His top short, posted on August 9, 2021, now has 155,539,506 views. In it, he takes clay scraps that would normally be thrown out and turns them back into a smooth, fresh pot. People loved it because it feels like a little miracle of saving and reusing. In handmade pottery making, nothing in a good studio goes to waste, and that idea speaks to anyone who hates throwing things away. Do you have a bag of dried out craft clay hiding in a drawer right now?
You will need: Leftover air dry clay scraps, a zip bag, a damp paper towel and a little water.
How to make it: 1. Break dry scraps into small bits and put them in a zip bag. 2. Add a damp paper towel and a spoon of water, then seal it overnight. 3. Knead the softened clay well and shape a small pot.
From a Smashed Pot Back to Fresh Clay
This short from August 12, 2022 has 90,843,063 views. He shows how dried, unfired pots that crack or fail can be broken up, soaked in water and turned back into clay you can use again. Watching a ruined pot melt back into the start of handmade pottery making is oddly soothing. It is also a lovely lesson for life: a mistake is not the end, just a new start. At home, you can give broken glazed pottery a second life too, in a safer and simpler way. Got a cracked mug you love?
You will need: Broken pottery pieces, a cement stepping stone or garden tile, tile adhesive, grout and thick work gloves.
How to make it: 1. Wear gloves and sort the broken pieces by color. 2. Press them into a layer of tile adhesive on the stepping stone. 3. Fill the gaps with grout, wipe clean and let it cure for a day.
The Pottery Bloopers Everyone Can Relate To
Posted on April 2, 2021, his blooper reel has 75,400,010 views. Pots wobble, lean, flop over and collapse into heaps on the spinning wheel. It is funny, but it is also comforting. If a potter with years of training still has days like this, then your lumpy first bowl is perfectly fine. It is the kind of video that makes beginners brave enough to sign up for a class. So go ahead and make something wonky. Who says a crooked pot cannot hold your keys?
You will need: A ball of air dry clay about the size of an orange, a cup of water and a soft brush.
How to make it: 1. Roll the clay into a ball and push your thumb into the center. 2. Pinch and turn, pinching the walls thinner as you go. 3. Do not fix the wobbles; let them dry as part of the charm.
Handmade Pottery Making on a Big Scale: The Large Stoneware Jar
This one, from October 12, 2021, has 66,974,944 views. He throws a huge jar, trims it, fits a lid and glazes it in a deep, glowing color. Seeing a jar that size come up from the wheel is like watching a magic trick in slow motion. Big jars like this show handmade pottery making at its most patient. They hold flour, rice or utensils and last for generations. You do not need a wheel to make a mini version, just some patience and a few clay ropes. Ready to roll some coils?
You will need: Air dry clay, a rolling board, a small dish of water and a butter knife.
How to make it: 1. Roll a flat round base and score the edge. 2. Roll long ropes of clay and stack them in rings, blending each one inside and out. 3. Smooth the outside with a damp sponge and let it dry for three days.
The Satisfying Pottery Process in One Calm Clip
Posted on June 14, 2023, this calm walk through the whole process has 59,892,534 views. It goes from wedging a lump of clay to throwing, trimming, drying, glazing and the final firing. It is the kind of clip people put on to unwind before bed. Seeing every stage of handmade pottery making side by side also makes you respect a simple bowl so much more. The easiest way to feel that joy at home is a pinch pot bowl, one of our favorite easy clay projects for beginners. Have you ever made one with just your thumbs?
You will need: Air dry clay, a sponge, a small cup of water and acrylic paint for later.
How to make it: 1. Press your thumb into a ball of clay and pinch the walls while turning it. 2. Flatten the base gently on the table. 3. Dry it for two days, then paint it in your favorite colors.
Glazing Tiny Inkwells Inside and Out
This short from November 14, 2022 has 39,052,306 views. He dips little round inkwells into rich glaze so the color coats the inside and outside at once. There is something cozy about a tiny pot made for writing letters by hand. Anyone who loves old fashioned pen and paper will adore these. You can make a sweet desk pot for paper clips or pens with a small lump of clay and a little paint. Would you keep yours by the phone or on your desk?
You will need: Air dry clay, a pencil, acrylic paint, a small brush and a clear gloss sealer.
How to make it: 1. Shape a small round pot with a narrow neck and make the opening with a pencil. 2. Let it dry fully. 3. Paint it inside and out, then seal it with a clear gloss coat.
Wide Angular Jars With a Two Tone Glaze
Posted on April 25, 2024, this glazing video has 35,867,024 views. He shapes jars with wide square shoulders and dips them in two glazes, one on top and one on the bottom. The line where the colors meet is the star of the show. It looks modern and old at the same time, which is why handmade pottery making feels so fresh again. You can copy the look with an old glass jar or a dried clay pot and two shades of paint. Which two colors would you pick for your shelf?
You will need: A clean jar or dried clay pot, two colors of chalk or acrylic paint, painter’s tape and a sealer.
How to make it: 1. Tape a line around the middle of the jar. 2. Paint the top in one color and the bottom in another. 3. Peel the tape while the paint is still a little soft, then seal once dry.
His Trick for Lids That Fit Perfectly
With 17,581,345 views since July 10, 2023, this short shows how he measures and shapes a lid so it sits snugly on its jar. A good lid should drop in with a soft, happy click, not wobble or stick. Lids are one of the trickiest parts of handmade pottery making to get right, so this tip was a real gift to beginners. You can practice the same idea on a small clay jar at home. Is there anything nicer than a lid that fits just right?
You will need: A small dried clay pot or jar, extra air dry clay, a rolling pin and a butter knife.
How to make it: 1. Roll a flat circle of clay and lay it over the jar rim to trace the size. 2. Cut it slightly wider and add a small knob on top. 3. Let it dry on the jar so it keeps its shape.
Handmade Pottery Making With Old Clay That Works Better
Posted on July 16, 2021, this short has 16,184,725 views. He throws a bowl from old clay that has been resting for a long time, and it behaves beautifully. Many potters believe aged clay is easier to shape because it has had time to settle. That might surprise anyone who would have tossed it. The same patience works with homemade salt dough, which shapes better after a short rest. Have you ever been too quick to throw something out?
You will need: Two cups flour, one cup salt, about three quarters of a cup of water and a covered bowl.
How to make it: 1. Mix the flour, salt and water into a soft dough. 2. Cover it and let it rest for an hour. 3. Shape a little bowl or ornament and bake it low and slow until hard.
How He Pulls Strong Coffee Cup Handles
His handle video from November 18, 2021 has 15,135,243 views. He pulls a strip of wet clay into a long, smooth handle and attaches it to a mug with a gentle curve. It sounds simple, but in handmade pottery making a comfy, strong handle is what makes people reach for the same mug every morning. You can give a plain air dry clay cup its own handle for pens or brushes. Who in your house would love a handmade mug holder for their desk?
You will need: Air dry clay, a toothpick, a small cup of water and a paintbrush.
How to make it: 1. Make a small cup by pinching or coiling. 2. Roll a thick rope, bend it into a C and score both ends. 3. Press it onto the cup with a little water and smooth the joins well.
Recycling Wet Clay on Plaster Slabs
This short from August 10, 2023 has 13,155,467 views. He spreads soupy, reclaimed clay on thick plaster slabs that pull the water out, so it firms up and can be used again. It is a quiet, clever studio trick that most people never see. Most of us never knew clay could come back to life like that. At home, an old cotton towel does a similar job for small amounts. Could you save your next batch of sticky clay this way?
You will need: Wet, sticky leftover clay, an old cotton towel, a tray and a plastic bag.
How to make it: 1. Spread the wet clay on the towel in a thin layer. 2. Leave it for an hour or two until it no longer sticks to your fingers. 3. Knead it and store it in a sealed bag.
Throwing and Trimming Tiny Pots
Posted on August 21, 2021, this short has 12,602,387 views. He throws small pots on the wheel, then trims away extra clay from the bottom to give each one a neat foot. Trimming turns a thick, heavy pot into a light, elegant one. Tiny pots are also perfect for succulents and little plants. You can make a whole row of mini planters with air dry clay and a cheap pack of succulents. How many would fit on your windowsill?
You will need: Air dry clay, a pencil, waterproof sealer, small succulents and a little cactus soil.
How to make it: 1. Pinch several small pots and poke a drainage hole in each with a pencil. 2. Let them dry and coat the inside with waterproof sealer. 3. Plant a small succulent in each one.
The Piece He Calls His Best Pottery Yet
In a short from January 13, 2025, which now has 9,598,625 views, he shows off a piece he calls the best pottery he has made. After so many years at the wheel, hearing him say that makes you want to look closely. Every maker has that one piece they are proud of. It does not have to be perfect, it just has to feel like you. Do you have a handmade favorite that deserves a proper spot in your home?
You will need: Your favorite handmade piece, a small wooden block or cutting board, sandpaper and wood stain.
How to make it: 1. Sand a small wooden block until smooth. 2. Stain it a warm color and let it dry. 3. Set your piece on top and place it where the light hits it best.
Handmade Pottery Making Secrets Shown in Cross Section
This one has about 9 million views and was posted about five years ago. He cuts freshly thrown bowls in half with a wire so viewers can see how thick the walls really are. It is the honest look inside that most potters never share. Even walls dry evenly and crack less, which is a lesson that helps with air dry clay too. A fun way to see it at home is with play dough. Want to test your own wall thickness?
You will need: Play dough or soft clay, a piece of dental floss and a small bowl to shape around.
How to make it: 1. Press dough over the back of a small bowl to make a dome. 2. Lift it off and set it upright. 3. Slice it in half with floss and check if the walls are even all the way around.
A Large Stoneware Bowl With Soft Dents
Posted about four years ago, this video has about 4.8 million views. He throws a big bowl and then gently presses soft dents all around the sides. The dents catch the glaze and the light, so the bowl seems to ripple. It is such a simple touch that makes a plain bowl look special. You can press the same dents into an air dry clay bowl with your thumb. Would you fill yours with lemons or with Christmas ornaments?
You will need: Air dry clay, a large bowl to use as a mold, plastic wrap and acrylic paint.
How to make it: 1. Line the mold bowl with plastic wrap and press a thick layer of clay inside. 2. Push soft thumb dents evenly around the sides. 3. Let it dry, lift it out and paint it.
A Teapot Made by Hand From Spout to Lid
This teapot build has about 3.6 million views and was posted about five years ago. He throws the body, the spout, the lid and the handle separately and then joins them into one working teapot. It may be one of the hardest builds on the whole channel, and you can see why. A teapot is handmade pottery making on hard mode, a whole family of pots that must fit together. At home, a little clay tea light house is a cozy, easy cousin. Where would you set yours?
You will need: Air dry clay, a rolling pin, a straw for cutting holes, paint and a battery LED tea light.
How to make it: 1. Roll clay into a cup shape big enough to cover an LED tea light. 2. Poke small holes with a straw and add a lid with a knob. 3. Dry, paint and pop a battery LED tea light inside.
Pulling Up the Walls of a Taller Pot
His beginner guide to pulling up the walls of a pot has about 2.2 million views and was posted about four years ago. He shows how to move clay from the bottom of a pot up to make it taller and thinner, a little at a time. It is the skill every new potter struggles with first in handmade pottery making. Without a wheel, coils are the best way to build tall walls at home. How tall can you build before it starts to lean?
You will need: Air dry clay, a rolling board, a cup of water and a wooden spoon handle for smoothing.
How to make it: 1. Roll even ropes of clay as thick as a pencil. 2. Stack them on a flat base, blending each row inside and out. 3. Stop every few rows to let the clay firm up before you go higher.
Handmade Pottery Making Gets Sparkly With Precious Minerals
His newest test went up on October 18, 2026 and reached 284,453 views in just nine days. He mixes crushed minerals into a glaze to see what happens in the kiln, and the result is a bowl full of tiny sparkles. A week later, on October 25, he posted another short about finally solving a problem that had bugged him for ages, and it hit 264,408 views in two days. You can add your own sparkle at home in a safer way. Ready to make your first shiny bowl?
You will need: Air dry clay, small glass beads or craft gems, a toothpick and a clear gloss sealer.
How to make it: 1. Shape a small bowl or dish from air dry clay. 2. Press tiny beads into the surface while the clay is still soft. 3. Let it dry fully, then brush on a clear gloss sealer to make it shine.
