The process of creating pottery is one that requires much attention and diligence.
There is a lot of fine-tuning that goes not only into forming the clay, but glazing, baking it etc.
One might commonly think of pottery starting with a lump of clay, but it actually starts with the mixture of the clay.
The clay is mixed differently depending on the type of pottery you are making.
There is a different "recipe" for each type of pottery.
For example, the three most common types are earthenware, stoneware, and porcelain.
Of the three, stoneware is the strongest and has the heaviest mixture, and porcelain is the most delicate with the finest mixture.
After it is mixed, then starts the process of shaping the clay.
The difficulty of shaping the clay varies from simpler to very difficult, depending on what you are making.
But of the simplest pot requires great skill to make.
After the formation of the piece of pottery, then comes decorating and glazing.
Some potters decorate by carving different designs, pictures, words etc into the side of the pottery.
Then they "paint" the pottery, only they do not use paint.
Glaze is what is used with pottery because it will handle the baking process, it will seal the pottery, and it will give it a beautiful, finished look.
After it is decorated and glazed, it is ready for the oven.
But you don't just fire it up and throw the pottery in.
You must pay careful attention to the temperature when baking pottery.
Just like there is a different clay mixture for different types of pottery, there is a different temperature used for different strengths and appearances of pottery.
Each type of pottery requires a different baking temperature.
Stoneware is baked at a much higher heat because it is a stronger pottery and needs a harder finish.
Porcelain on the other hand is baked at much lower temperatures in order to protect its very delicate nature.
Overall, the process of pottery is very involved and has a lot more steps and processes than people usually associate with pottery.