How to Care for Slipcast Porcelain
Slipcast porcelain has a refined, smooth surface and precise form that sets it apart from wheel-thrown work. Caring for it correctly keeps it looking its best and ensures it lasts …
How to Store Clay Properly
Clay is a surprisingly durable material when stored correctly — it can last for years without degrading. But improper storage can lead to clay that is too stiff to work, …
Introduction to Nerikomi: Japanese Patterned Clay
Nerikomi is a Japanese ceramics technique that creates intricate, geometric patterns running through the clay itself — not on the surface. Slice through a nerikomi piece anywhere and the pattern …
Why is My Glaze Crawling? Causes and Fixes
Crawling is one of the most frustrating glaze defects — your glaze pulls back from the clay surface during firing, leaving bare patches and bead-like edges. Understanding why it happens …
How to Read Witness Cones and Set Them Up
Witness cones are one of the most important tools in a potter’s kiln room — yet many potters skip them entirely, trusting their digital controller alone. The problem is that …
Ian Currie’s Grid Method: Map 35 Glazes in One Firing
Ian Currie’s grid method tests 35 related glazes in a single firing by varying silica and alumina across a 5×7 tile. A complete guide to making the grid tile, mixing the glazes by volumetric blending, firing, and reading the results.
Pinch and Coil Combined: Building Organic Handbuilt Forms
Pinching and coiling are the two most ancient handbuilding techniques — and they work beautifully together. A pinched base gives you an organic, intimate starting point, while coiling lets you …
Types of Pulls in Wheel Throwing: How Each One Shapes Your Clay
Pulling is the core motion of wheel throwing — but not all pulls are the same. Different hand positions, pressures, and directions produce different results. Understanding the main types of …
Electric Kiln Maintenance Guide: Before, During, and After Firing
A well-maintained kiln fires more evenly, lasts years longer, and keeps your studio safer. Small issues left unchecked — a dirty thermocouple, glaze on an element, a cracked brick — …
How to Load a Kiln: Bisque Firing, Tumble Stacking, and Glaze Firing
How you load your kiln directly affects how evenly your work fires. A poorly loaded kiln results in cold spots, glaze defects, broken pieces, and damaged shelves. A well-loaded kiln …