One of the inevitable costs of owning a kiln is changing the elements now and then. But how long do kiln elements last? And how much will it cost each time you need to change them? These are good questions if you’re trying to work out how much it’s going to cost to maintain your …
How Long do Kiln Elements Last? – How Many Firings? Read More »
If you like making things out of clay, you may have thought about honing your skill and becoming a potter. But what does a potter do? And what is their working life like day-to-day? Here is all you need to know about the work and life of a potter. And what you can expect if …
What Does a Potter Do? A Day in the Life of a Potter Read More »
I admit it, I’m a thrift store junkie. Recently I picked up a beautiful second-hand porcelain dish in a thrift store. It’s certainly large enough to cook a casserole in, but it got me wondering, is porcelain oven safe? So, I looked into it carefully and discovered the following… Modern kitchenware that has been made …
Is Porcelain Oven Safe? – Using Porcelain in the Oven Read More »
If you are starting to use terra sigillata, it’s most likely that you have made your own batch. But perhaps you are wondering what temperature to fire terra sigillata. After all, if you have made your own, you won’t have any manufacturers firing guidelines! There is quite a variety of opinions about the temperature to …
What Temperature to Fire Terra Sigillata? | What Works Best? Read More »
Salt glazing has been around since the 14th century. And though it’s no longer used as an industrial way of making pottery, it is still popular amongst individual potters. Small craft potteries still produce beautiful salt glazed pottery. In this article, I dive into how exactly salt glaze pottery is made. I’ll also look at …
Salt Glazed Pottery – All About Salt Glazing, Past, & Present Read More »
In the field of pottery, there are lots of different types of ceramic ware. Very broadly, ‘ware’ is a term used to refer to pottery objects, in their different stages of being made. You may have wondered what the difference is between stoneware and earthenware. This article will compare stoneware vs earthenware, and in particular, …
When I first looked into kiln maintenance, I heard it was advisable to put kiln wash on the kiln floor. Whilst I could understand the point of this, painting anything on my kiln made me feel nervous. Kilns are an expensive piece of kit and I didn’t want to ruin the kiln brick. So, I …
Kiln Wash on Kiln Floor? – Does it Protect Your Kiln? Read More »
For a long time, Japanese raku pottery remained a mystery to me. I like to make raku pottery, and I was aware that the techniques I had learned are western raku methods. I knew that these were different from the Japanese methods. But I felt a bit intimidated and ill-equipped to understand Japanese raku. However, …
Japanese Raku Pottery – Raku Ware Past and Present Read More »
Learning how to use a pottery wheel takes practice. Perhaps you are new to pottery, or maybe you want to practice your wheel throwing. Either way, you are probably wondering how to find a pottery wheel near me. It’s also possible that you would like to try pottery as a hobby. But you want to …
13 Ways of Finding a Pottery Wheel Near Me – Local Pottery Wheels Read More »
I’d always thought that terracotta clay should be fired at low temperatures. Firing basically means baking the clay in a kiln. But I bought some recently and the manufacturer’s spec said it could be fired up to 1181C (2158F). This is much higher than I thought, and it led me to question what I know …
What is Terracotta Made of? – A Look at Red Burning Clay Read More »
Clay is dug up from the ground and processed so it can be used to make pottery. Often it is manufacturers who mine the clay and transport it to a processing plant. Sometimes it is individual potters who want to be self-sufficient. But this raises the question, where is clay found? Good clay for pottery …
Where Is Clay Found? – How to Get Your Hands on Clay Soil Read More »
Earthenware pottery is everywhere. It is used to make everything from roof tiles, building bricks, plant pots, and dinnerware. So, what is this amazingly versatile material called earthenware? And exactly what is earthenware made of? Here is your answer in a nutshell: Earthenware is traditionally made from ‘red earthenware’ clay or ‘red terra-cotta’. However, some …
What is Earthenware Made of? – Earthenware Pottery 101 Read More »
Pottery therapy is one aspect of working with clay that doesn’t get the attention that it deserves. Pottery and other clay products are a staple in many homes and buildings today. From the aesthetic appeal that they can bring to spaces to their functional applications, the reasons for that are not farfetched. However, working with …
Pottery Therapy: 7 Health Benefits from Working with Clay Read More »
If you are involved in the pottery field – whether as a potter yourself or lover of fine things – you would have come across quite the number of designs and finishes. From the terra sigillata to salt-glazed pottery, these units bring different things to the table. Salt-glazed pottery is usually characterized by its German …
How to Identify Salt Glazed Pottery – Key Features and Identifying Marks Read More »
Terra sigillata has long been in use by potters who continue to push the limits of what’s possible. This low-fire clay method is best applied when potters are trying to achieve a fine, smooth finish on the outside of their products without glazing. But then, that begs the question – is terra sigillata food safe? …
Is Terra Sigillata Food Safe? – Is it Functional or Decorative? Read More »
Take it from someone who has been there: pottery can look intimidating from the outside. If you were considering how to become a potter, standing in awe of these magnificent ceramic creations could make you rethink your choices – and if you are cut out for this in the first place. Becoming a potter is …
How to Become A Potter – Can You Get A Qualification in Pottery? Read More »
The pinching technique can be used to make exquisite pottery and artwork. Here are 12 pinch pot artists, who demonstrate how refined and creative the pinching technique can be. The breadth and diversity of their work illustrates how versatile pinching clay as a method of hand building can be. The following pinch pot artists are …
Pinch Pot Artists – 12 Potters Who Use the Pinching Technique Read More »
I recently made a lovely red terra cotta vase, and bisque fired it. I was wondering what glaze to use when it occurred to me that a nice white slip would look good. But I had already bisque fired it and I wondered, can you apply decorating slip to bisque. So, I did a little …
Can You Use Decorating Slip on Bisque? – Slip on Bisqueware Read More »
Making pinch pottery is very tactile. As you pinch your pot you will feel the thickness of the clay between your fingers and thumb. But just how thick should a pinch pot be? Exactly how thick you want your pinch pot to be is a matter of personal choice and taste. However, there are a …
How Thick Should a Pinch Pot Be? – Pinch Pot Walls Read More »
Pinch pots are one of the oldest ways of making pottery. There is evidence that pinch pot history starts many thousands of years ago. The simplicity of the technique has survived over the millennia. When I discovered that pinch pots were being made as far back as the Neolithic era, I was oddly reassured. …
Pinch Pot History – A History of Pinch Pots Over the Years Read More »