Throwing clay pots on a wheel is where many pottery and ceramic artists began learning their art. Making cookie jars and clay canister sets was an easy way to learn how to make different sizes of pots with the same form. It was an exercise that many learned. Decorating these pots was accomplished with slip. Slip is simply clay that is mixed with water and coloring. It can be added to the outside of the pot with a brush or by hand. Cobalt and brown colors were often used to present a rustic look. These pots were an artful way to decorate kitchen counters and keep ingredients readily available for home cooks.