Snail: Step-by-Step Pottery Guide

A charming snail with a sculpted body, textured shell, and delicate spiral antennae. This digital guide walks you through every step with clear photos, from forming the body coil to creating and attaching the shell, eyes, and antennae.

What's included:

• Step-by-step photo instructions (PDF)
• Material list
• Tips on coil shaping, shell attachment, and facial feature sculpting

What materials you will need:

• Grogged (chamotte) clay, slip
• Snail shell mold, if available
• Spatula, wooden skewer
• Scoring tool

Before you start:

This guide works with clay shapes you'll create from scratch. A snail shell mold is optional but helpful for creating the perfect shell—if you don't have one, you can shape the shell by hand. Gather your materials and review the guide once before starting.

Also helpful (optional, free):

New to clay, or want a quick refresher on the basics? These guides are handy to have on hand:

• Clay & Pottery Basics
• Glazing & Decorating
• Firing