Michael Hardy looks at the traditional handbuilding methods of pinching, coiling, slab building and pressmoulding, and explains in detail how to use them. The simplicity and steadiness of most handbuilding techniques means that they can be used to build much more complex forms than can be achieved on the wheel, and so appeals to a wide range of ceramic artists. These artists are exploring the possibilities that handbuilding provides, pushing back the boundaries and combining techniques to achieve some of the most exciting ceramics today.