Pottery is as much about the process as it is about the finished piece. One of the most humbling aspects of working with clay is learning how to embrace the imperfections—and sometimes, that means dealing with cracks.
Yes, cracks can be frustrating, but they’re also part of the journey. They remind us that pottery is not a perfect, predictable craft—it’s an art that requires patience, experimentation, and a little bit of letting go.
Cracks can happen for many reasons, and there are a variety of variables at play during the pottery-making process. Here’s why cracks often appear:
- Drying Too Quickly: If the clay dries too fast (perhaps due to heat or air circulation), it can contract unevenly, causing cracks to form.
- Uneven Thickness: If your piece is too thick in some spots and too thin in others, the heat from firing can cause it to crack as it expands and contracts.
- Trapped Air: Even a tiny air bubble inside the clay can cause cracking when it expands in the kiln.
- Thermal Shock: Sudden temperature changes, like placing a piece into a very hot or very cold kiln, can lead to cracks.
While cracks may seem like a setback, they are actually an important part of the learning process. Pottery is full of variables—every piece of clay behaves differently depending on the type, humidity, temperature, and even how it was handled. Sometimes the cracks are out of your control, and that’s okay.
As you continue your pottery journey, you'll learn how to handle and troubleshoot these issues. When those cracks appear, remember: this is part of the process.
It’s a chance to let go, learn from the experience, and keep experimenting. Because in pottery, just like in life, the imperfections are often what make the creation unique and beautiful!