A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO Handmade Tiles

Learn how to achieve an artisan look with approachable techniques and materials

- CARMEN DE LA PAZ

One of the first rules of working with clay is to expect a few surprises along the way. Even when you carefully knead out air pockets, roll and measure your tiles, fire the kiln just right and follow a consistent process, tiles can curl as they dry, warp or break in the kiln, or emerge a different color than expected after glazing. But those variations are normal. In fact, they're the signature of something handmade.

With patience, practice and a little willingness to experiment, you'll start to understand how clay behaves and how to work with it, not against it. Remember: The challenge is half the fun, and the reward is a set of one-of-a-kind tiles tailored to your taste.

Ceramic tile can be used throughout your home, but you don't have to tackle a full room or backsplash right away. For an approachable way to build confidence in your technique, start with a smaller project such as our colorful tile-top coffee table on page 20.

Many pottery studios offer firing services for community members. Here, ceramicist Codey Gallas hands Carmen a glazed tile straight from the kiln at South High School in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

Getting Started with Ceramics

If this is your first ceramics project, fear not—working with clay is a continuous learning process. To help guide beginners, I consulted Codey Gallas, an award-winning sculptural ceramicist and artist educator at South High School in Waukesha, Wisconsin.