Maria ten Kortenaar’s Journey with Nerikomi Porcelain

# **Build a Pot with Porcelain: A Step-by-Step Tutorial by Maria ten Kortenaar**

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In this video, expert ceramic artist Maria ten Kortenaar demonstrates the process of hand building a pot using pieces of porcelain. This tutorial was specifically created for the May 2019 issue of ‘de kleine K’, a Dutch digital ceramics magazine. Directed by Mels Boom, the video is in Dutch but includes English subtitles for accessibility.

### **Keywords/Tags:**
Maria ten Kortenaar, Mels Boom, porcelain, hand building, ceramics, nerikomi, how to

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## **Video Transcript**

*[Music]*

[Maria ten Kortenaar] Hello, welcome back. Today, I will be working with porcelain and showing you a technique called ‘nerikomi’, which involves creating marbled porcelain. I will demonstrate how to build a pot using this technique, starting with a block of porcelain that displays a gradient of colors from dark to light. At the end of the process, you’ll see the transformation from a messy-looking pot to a beautiful finished object.

First, I’ll create a new color for the gradients. I’ll make a small well in the porcelain and add the pigment. I’ll knead it until the colors blend seamlessly. Next, I’ll make equal strips of the colored porcelain.

I’ll arrange these strips in an alternating pattern, going from dark to light, and then stack them to create a block. It’s important to press the pieces firmly together to ensure a solid structure. Once the block is complete, I’ll flatten it into a slab.

Now, I’ll cut the slab into smaller pieces to create the sides of the pot. To assemble the pot, I’ll stack these pieces one by one, using black porcelain slip as the adhesive. This will create visible seams, adding an interesting visual element to the final piece.

Once the pot is fully assembled, I’ll let it rest for at least 24 hours to allow the colors to meld together. After that, I’ll trim the bottom to create a level surface and make a perpendicular corner to ensure a solid foundation.

To construct the bottom of the pot, I’ll cut a circle with a circumference of 45 centimeters. Then, I’ll attach small blocks of porcelain in a pattern, using yellow for some and larger blocks for others. I’ll use black slip to join these pieces, emphasizing the seams.

Once the pot is complete, I’ll let it dry for several days until it reaches leather-hard consistency. Then, I’ll scrape away the excess black slip to reveal the intricate pattern underneath.

Finally, I’ll fire the pot in a kiln at temperatures between 550 and 1250 degrees Celsius to ensure its durability and water resistance.

[Music]

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For more ceramic tutorials and inspiration, check out ‘de kleine K’ digital magazine and stay tuned for more videos by Maria ten Kortenaar on our channel.

**Sources:**

– [Maria ten Kortenaar’s YouTube Channel](link_to_youtube_channel)
– [De Kleine K](https://www.dekleinek.nl/)
– [Mels Boom’s Website](https://www.melsboom.nl/)

*[Authority link 1]: [Maria ten Kortenaar’s YouTube Channel](link_to_youtube_channel)
*[Authority link 2]: [De Kleine K](https://www.dekleinek.nl/)
*[Authority link 3]: [Mels Boom’s Website](https://www.melsboom.nl/)

De expert: Maria ten Kortenaar laat zien hoe zij een pot opbouwt uit stukjes porselein.
Video speciaal gemaakt voor het meinummer 2019 van de kleine K, het onafhankelijke digitale keramiekmagazine. Film van Mels Boom. Nederlands gesproken, Engels ondertiteld.

The expert: Maria ten Kortenaar shows how she builds a pot using pieces of porcelain.
Video made for the May 2019 issue of the Dutch digital ceramics magazine ‘de kleine K’. A film by Mels Boom. Dutch spoken, English subtitles.Neriage