Ceramic
Alternative Glaze Materials
Author John Britt investigates the use of common household materials to create unique glazes. Cat Litter, Antacid and other non-traditional glaze materials. (Alternative Glaze Materials for the Modern Potter) Celadon Ewer, 8” x 5” x 4”, wheel thrown and assembled, porcelain, cone 10 gas fired reduction, Satin Green Glaze, 2000. In ancient times potters did not have... Read More
Abundant Beauty
Article by Alice Simpson Dolly Dimples, Baby Thelma, Baby Ruth, Jolly Nellie, and other Circus Fat Folks’ true life obsession with food was, like my own obsession with clay, their deepest joy and the defining passion of their lives. Many of us, men AND women, struggle with “hungers,” yearnings for pleasures be it food, love,... Read More
Wet Firing
I was recently surprised to hear of a fast firing technique called ‘wet firing’. With this technique pots are fired ‘wet’, i.e. they can be fired straight after throwing and taking off the wheel. Normally when you try to fire a wet piece, it blows up in the kiln. Why does clay do this? It... Read More
Glaze Defects and Their Remedies
There are many things that can go wrong with a glaze. Even after testing and compensating for the composition of local ingredients when using recipes from the Glaze Page or other countries, lots of things can go wrong. Here is a description of the most common glaze defects and some suggestions on how to fix them. Crazing... Read More
S-Cracks and How to Avoid Them
S-cracks are something almost anyone working on a potter’s wheel will have experienced at some stage or another. What is an s-crack? An s-crack is a crack that appears in the maturation firing. It has the shape of an ‘S’. It can happen with stoneware, but also with lower fired earthenware clays. Porcelains can especially... Read More
Making a Simple Plaster Mold
Plaster molds are used in ceramics to pour multiples of a single object with liquid clay (slip). Making a mold can be a daunting task, depending on its complexity. Mold making is a highly skilled and highly payed job, e.g. with large ceramics companies like Rosenthal or Royal Doulton. On the other hand, anyone can... Read More
Egyptian Paste
Egyptian Paste was used, as the name implies, by the ancient Egyptians, as far back as 7,000 years ago. Ornaments made from this material have been found in most Egyptian burial tombs. Egyptian Paste is a self-glazing, low-firing clay body that was probably discovered by accident when a mixture of sand, clay, potash feldspar and soda ash... Read More
Black Firing Tips and Tricks
Amongst the ‘primitive’ firing techniques you will find the technique of ‘Black Firing’. This method involves heating a primitive gas-brick kiln to about 1000oC and then adding copious amounts of sugar, which then volatilize and impregnate the clay with carbon, giving it a mat black surface. Glazes may also be used with this method, which... Read More
Printing Ceramics
All of us have come into contact with decals — we see the commercial type every day on mugs, plates and other industrial ceramics. Getting these types of images on to a ceramic work is not necessarily that hard. In this feature I would like to have a brief look at some of the issues... Read More
Pit Firing
Pit firing can be termed a ‘primitive’ firing technique, although this is not meant in a derogatory way. The word ‘traditional’ can certainly also be used in the case of many cultures, that were amongst the first to discover this simple firing technique. It is still widely used on many continents today, but it the... Read More
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