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Published — 4 September 2026 ⏭ Florian Gadsby pottery

How I Draw the Handles for my Pots

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Some of the peskiest things to draw, in my opinion, are handles. A cylinder is one thing but attaching a protrusion onto that, which extends outwards at sometimes an unusual angle, is altogether another kettle of fish. Sometimes I like the handles I draw and there are other times where I simply cannot stand them but they’re slowly getting better, or I go through periods when drawing such three-dimensional shapes simply makes more sense.
 
One thing I’ve started to do when I feel a little bit unsure, is to first sketch them out with a pencil in an attempt to see where they exist within three dimensions. Then, once I’m happy with that little addition, I can solidify them in ink.
 
Lastly, and I think really importantly, it’s rare that the handles drawn truly reflect the pulled, glazed versions that I end up creating. In this moment on the paper, they are simply a guide so that I can see their approximate placement on the cup, or to see how thick or thin they should be. They’re never features I copy perfectly, in fact, it’s rare that the entire drawn vessels end up being recreated perfectly in clay. Normally they’re simply a way of rapidly exploring new shapes and ideas without the need for attempting to make everything physically.
 
It’s faster to fill up a few pages worth with ideas than to make them all in stoneware, and thus, from these quickly drawn ideas, I can pick and choose my favourite.
 
#drawing #illustration #pottery #clay #craft
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