Ceramics vs Pottery: What's the Difference?

Hey there, clay friends! Let's tackle one of those questions we get asked ALL the time - what's the real difference between ceramics and pottery?

Grab your favorite handmade mug (wonky handle and all), and let's sort this out together!

Difference Between Pottery and Ceramics

Here's the simple truth: all pottery is ceramics, but not all ceramics are pottery. Think of ceramics as the larger family, with pottery being one special branch of it.

Ceramics are anything changed and made stronger by heat - from handmade mugs to building materials.

Pottery? That's what we create when we work with clay by hand, whether on a pottery wheel or sculpting.

Let me break this down for you.

Is Ceramics Pottery?

Not always! While your handmade mug is both, the bricks in buildings? Just ceramics. When we're talking pottery, we're in the world of:

• Throwing on the wheel (you know, that zen moment when everything centers just right)
• Hand-building those perfectly imperfect pieces
• Creating functional art that becomes part of someone's daily life
• Fighting with that stubborn piece that just. won't. center. (We've all been there!)

Is Pottery Ceramics?

This one's easier - yes! Every piece that comes out of our kilns, whether it's:

• Your first wobbly bowl (we all start somewhere!)
• Those coil-built pieces that took forever
• The slab-rolled platter you're particularly proud of
• That sculpture you poured your heart into

It's all ceramics because it's clay transformed by fire. Magic, right?

Are Ceramics and Pottery the Same Thing?

Here's where it gets interesting! When we're in the studio, getting our hands dirty and creating with clay, that's pottery.

But ceramics? That's a whole bigger world that includes:

• The tiles in your kitchen
• High-tech components in electronics
• Building materials
• Dental crowns and veneers
• Even spacecraft parts (how cool is that?)

Ceramic or Pottery: Which Term Should You Use?

While potters often use these terms interchangeably when talking about their work (and that's totally fine!), knowing the difference helps us appreciate just how vast the ceramic world is.

Let's keep it real - when you're:

• Taking classes at your local studio
• Making functional pieces
• Creating handmade gifts
• Working on the wheel
• Hand-building anything

Call it pottery!

But when you're talking about:

• Industrial materials
• Construction elements
• Technical applications
• The broader field

Go with ceramics. Simple as that!

Ceramic Pottery Meaning

When we say "ceramic pottery," we're talking about what most of us do in the studio - creating functional or decorative pieces from clay that are fired at high temperatures. It's:

• The mugs your friends fight over at dinner parties
• Those bowls that make every meal feel special
• The vases that showcase flowers from your garden
• The pieces that carry stories and memories

Remember, whether you're just starting or you've been throwing for years, these terms are just part of the bigger picture. At the end of the day, what matters most isn't what we call it - it's the joy of creating something with our own hands.

Keep getting your hands dirty and embrace the process (even the fails - they're learning opportunities!).

And if anyone gets too technical about terminology, just hand them a handmade mug. Nothing explains the beauty of pottery better than holding it in your hands. 💕