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 »
I had been thinking about running some pottery classes. And one of the questions on my mind was how to provide a wheelchair accessible pottery wheel. So, I started looking into it and this is what I found out. You can buy a wheel that is specifically designed to be wheelchair accessible, however, these are …
Wheelchair Accessible Pottery Wheel – What are the Options? Read More »
I decided to buy a table top pottery wheel. The two most highly recommended table top pottery wheels I could find, are the Shimpo Aspire and the Speedball Artista. But which one is the best? I wanted a table top pottery wheel that I could put in the back of my car, and transport easily. …
Table Top Pottery Wheel – Shimpo Aspire or Speedball Artista? Read More »
There are different types of kiln, and each of them works a bit differently. However, regardless of design, kilns are simply chambers that are heated up to bake clay at high temperatures. In this article, I will look at the question, how do kilns work? I will consider some of the differences between types of …
How Do Kilns Work? – All about How Pottery Kilns Fire Clay Read More »
Raku firing pottery is often described as a low fire fast method of glazing or finishing your pottery. But if you are thinking of firing raku, you might be wondering what exactly is the recommended raku firing temperature? In the context of a raku firing temperature, what does ‘low fire’ mean? Raku pottery is often …
What is the Recommended Raku Firing Temperature? Read More »
The most common practice when making ceramics is to fire pottery twice. The first fire is the bisque or biscuit fire. But what is the second firing of clay called? The second firing of clay is called the glaze fire. After the first fire, liquid glaze is applied to the bisque fired pottery. This is …
What is the Second Firing of Clay Called? – Glaze or Glost? Read More »
One of the first things that you will learn about firing clay is that it happens in two stages. These two stages have different purposes. This article is all about the first stage. So, let’s look first at what the first firing of clay is called… The first firing of clay is called the bisque …
What is the First Firing of Clay Called? – Bisque, Biscuit or Bisc? Read More »
Usually, clay is fired two times. The first time is the bisque fire and the second time is the glaze fire. Clay undergoes changes during both of these firing processes. And this article is all about what happens to clay when it is fired in a bisque and a glaze fire. In essence, when clay …
What Happens to Clay When it is Fired in a Kiln? Read More »
When you are starting out in pottery, most likely someone else is firing your pieces. Or perhaps you have a new kiln and you are wondering about firing schedules. Either way, you are probably wondering, how long does it take to fire clay in a kiln? This article is all about how long the firing …
How Long Does It Take to Fire Clay in a Kiln? – Clay Firing Facts Read More »
Firing clay is the process of turning it from clay into ceramic material. Most of the time pottery is fired twice, and the second firing is called glaze firing. So, what exactly is glaze firing? The first step in firing pottery is the bisque fire when clay turns into ceramic ware. After the bisque fire, …
What is Glaze Firing? – All About Glaze Firing Pottery Read More »
Firing pottery can seem like a mysterious process to the new potter. There are lots of technical terms that can sound quite foreign. So, I thought it would be helpful to write an overview of the stages of firing clay. Here is a guide to the 3 stages of firing clay. There are 3 main …
3 Stages of Firing Clay – A Beginners Guide to Firing Pottery Read More »