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Ceramic Mold Making Techniques: Tips for Making Plaster Molds and Slip Casting Clay March 15, 2010
Plaster molds make it possible for you to repeat complicated patterns and create forms not possible to efficiently construct using any other pottery technique. For thousands of years, potters used bisqued clay for molds but the major drawback was that they could not get a lot of detail. With the discovery of plaster in the 17th century, potters immediately saw the advantages and plaster has been the choice for ceramic molds ever since. If you're interested in exploring the world of making plaster molds for slip casting or handbuilding, Ceramic Mold Making Techniques: Tips for Making Plaster Molds and Slip Casting Clay is a great place to start!Read Comments (0)
Contemporary Functional Pottery: A Discussion of Handmade Pottery by 11 Working Potters March 1, 2010
There are a lot of people who use pottery, but there is a relatively small group of those who use handmade pottery. These are the folks who really understand the value of the handmade object in their everyday lives. As it happens the most dedicated of those people are often potters themselves. In Contemporary Functional Pottery: A Discussion of Handmade Pottery by 11 Working Potters, we present the observations and perspectives of those who know handmade pottery the best - not only the pots they produce, but what it means to make functional, utilitarian pottery in the contemporary world.Read Comments (0)
10 Tried and True Cone 10 Glaze Recipes: Recipe Cards for our Favorite High-Fire Pottery Glazes February 15, 2010
Guess what cone 10 potters?! We've gathered some of our favorite traditional cone 10 glaze recipes in a convenient recipe-card format, perfect for printing and taking to the glaze lab or pottery studio. Whether you are interested in trying out some of the beautiful cone 10 pottery glazes that have been used for generations, or if you want to try something new, you've found the perfect resource.Read Comments (0)
A Guide to Ceramic Kilns: Choosing the Right Kiln Firing Method and Design For Your Art February 1, 2010
Without kilns there would be no ceramics. Since the very beginning when primitive man discovered the soil around a fire changed to rock, learning how to contain the heat and control it has been an ongoing endeavor. Many types of kilns have been constructed over the millennia and today we're fortunate to have such a wide selection to choose from. You can choose the type of kiln atmosphere you want (oxidation or reduction), the type of fuel you want to use (oil, gas, electric, or wood) and maybe even the special surfaces you want (salt, soda, raku, or pit). A Guide to Ceramic Kilns: Choosing the Right Kiln Firing Method and Design For Your Art will help you make all ...Read Comments (0)
The Salt Glaze Surface: A Guide to Salt Glazing and Firing January 18, 2010
Salt firing and salt glazing have been common practice in ceramics for centuries, initially as an industrial glazing method, and then as an artistic treatment and technique in studio ceramics. Not only does salt glazing seal the ware, but it creates a distinctive orange-peel texture that has become a desirable decorative trait of salt glazed ware. We also use sodium in many of our glazes, but if you're going to fire with salt, it is best to use slip and glaze recipes designed to react with the salt in the kiln atmosphere. All of this and more is covered in the free download, The Salt Glaze Surface: A Guide to Salt Glazing and Firing.Read Comments (0)
Ceramic Carving Tool Techniques: Bringing the Ceramic Surface to Life January 4, 2010
One of the best ways to make a piece of clay work your own is to literally put your mark on it. In Ceramic Carving Tool Techniques: Bringing the Ceramic Surface to Life, you will learn to go further, bringing the form and surface of your work together into a signature style using a variety of carving tools in combination with carving techniques like sgraffito, etching, wire-cutting, relief carving and more.Read Comments (0)
Successful Tips for Buying and Using Pottery Clay How to Select the Right Clay, Estimate Your Clay Needs, and Test Clays for Better Results December 21, 2009
Buying the right pottery clay is one of the keys to your success in the studio. There are many variables that determine the right pottery clay for your needs including color, temperature range, the type of pottery you make, and what kind of forming methods you use, just to name a few. When someone offers you a bunch of free clay, watch out! Most of the value in a piece of pottery is in the time and effort you invest, and the clay is one of the least expensive elements.Read Comments (0)
Tips, Techniques and Tools for Getting the Most Out of Your Pottery Wheel: From Centering to Trimming, Tips for the Potter’s Wheel December 7, 2009
Tips, Techniques and Tools for Getting the Most Out of Your Pottery Wheel: From Centering to Trimming, Tips for the Potter’s Wheel is our gift to you when you sign up for your free Ceramic Arts Daily newsletter. Subscribe today for free!Already a subscriber? Download your copy right here! (current subscribers must be logged in to download free gifts).Throwing on the potters wheel is exciting and fun. Once you can center then you'll never get tired of the many things you can do with wheel thrown pottery. Here we've gathered some tips and techniques that will increase your enjoyment for ...Read Comments (0)
Successful Tips and Techniques for Raku Firing: How to Select Raku Clays, Glazes, Kilns and Combustibles November 23, 2009
Successful Tips and Techniques for Raku Firing: How to Select Raku Clays, Glazes, Kilns and Combustibles is our gift to you when you sign up for your free Ceramic Arts Daily newsletter. Subscribe today for free!Already a subscriber? Download Successful Tips and Techniques for Raku Firing: How to Select Raku Clays, Glazes, Kilns and Combustibles right here! (current subscribers must be logged in to download free gifts).Raku firing is expressive, exciting and fun. Whether you’re raku firing in your own studio or taking part in a group raku firing at a school, workshop or community center, raku ...Read Comments (0)
How to Design, Make and Install Ceramic Tile Murals and Mosaics: Design Tips and How-To Instructions for Handmade Ceramic Tile Projects November 9, 2009
Handmade ceramic tiles take advantage of all the complex possibilities of the ceramic process. Add the graphic potential of a picture plane, multiply that over any area you want, and the possibilities for ceramic tile projects become near limitless. And ceramic tile isn’t just flat; handmade ceramic tiles can be relief surfaces that are quite complex—but you would be surprised to learn how easy it can be to make your own. It all starts with ceramic tile design—and good design starts at the end; considering the end result of a ceramic tile project before any tile is made will help you choose the clay and the tools to use. And the experts we’ve chosen to walk you through the process ...Read Comments (0)
Buyers Guide to Ceramic Supplies: A Studio Reference for Purchasing and Using Ceramic Supplies and Pottery Tools October 26, 2009
For the ceramic artist who needs supplies, the 2010 Buyers Guide to Ceramic Supplies is the place to look. If you're looking for ceramic supplies, glaze materials, ceramic equipment, or clay tools, the Buyers Guide lists nearly 300 companies offering tools and supplies. You'll also discover information on raku clay, raku glazes, underglazes, raw materials for glazes, what you need for glaze supplies, what to look for when buying a raku kiln or an electric kiln, and more. And it's yours free when you subscribe to Ceramic Arts Daily.Read Comments (0)
Contemporary Clay Sculpture: A Collection of Four of Our Favorite Articles on Contemporary Ceramic Sculpture October 12, 2009
Clay reigns as the oldest and most natural medium for sculpture. From the dawn of human history, people of every culture have taken clay and molded it into objects. You can coil monumental forms, build with slabs, make totems, or even use computers to generate sculptures. For thousands of years, clay’s versatility and universal accessibility have made it the most popular medium for creating three dimensional work.Read Comments (0)
Soda Firing Techniques, Tips and Soda Glaze Recipes September 28, 2009
With so many different firing techniques available to choose from, all with their own set of requirements, it can be difficult decide which is best for your work, or intimidating to experiment with a new one. High-temperature atmospheric firing techniques, like soda, salt, wood and reduction, can be the most challenging to learn because of the many variables involved. To help you get started with soda firing, we've put together Soda Firing Techniques, Tips and Soda Glaze Recipes as a free gift. Inside, you will find articles and images from Ceramics Monthly that demonstrate the exciting aesthetic possibilities with soda firing and share practical technical information, soda glaze recipes, atmospheric slip recipes, soda glazing techniques and tips for firing a...Read Comments (0)
Wood Kiln Firing Techniques and Tips: Inspiration and Information for Making a Wood-Fired Kiln and Firing with Wood September 14, 2009
Wood Kiln Firing Techniques and Tips: Inspiration and Information for Making a Wood-Fired Kiln and Firing with Wood is our gift to you when you sign up for your free Ceramic Arts Daily newsletter. Subscribe today for free! Already a subscriber? Download Wood Kiln Firing Techniques and Tips: Inspiration and Information for making a Wood-Fired Kiln and Firing with Wood right here! (current subscribers must be logged in to download free gifts)Wood firing is the oldest firing method. Since the dawn of time when man first began to understand how fire hardened clay, wood was used almost exclusively for thousands ...Read Comments (0)
Getting the Most out of Ceramic Glazes and Underglazes: Using Commercial Ceramic Glazes and Underglazes to Achieve Color, Depth, and Complexity August 31, 2009
Ceramic glazes and underglazes are varied and wondrous concoctions. Because they can be complex, as well as for ease of use and time savings, most of us use commercial ceramic glazes to some extent. Chances are, even if you are a ceramic-glaze-mixing master, you have a few commercial ceramic glazes or underglazes around the studio for specific pottery applications. Here are several approaches and techniques to successfully identifying, applying and firing commercial ceramic glazes and underglazes.Read Comments (0)
Electric Kiln Firing Techniques and Tips: Inspiration, Instruction and Glaze Recipes for Electric Ceramic Kilns August 17, 2009
Electric kiln firing is one of the most common firing methods because electric kilns are readily available and simple to install, but that doesn't mean that electric firing yields common results. Electric kilns can be incredible tools in the pottery studio. In this collection of articles, you will see how creative potters and ceramic artists are using electric kilns to create exquisite ceramic art.Read Comments (0)
10 Tried and True Raku Glaze Recipes: Recipe Cards for our Favorite Raku Pottery Glazes August 3, 2009
Good news for those of you who raku fire and are looking for some new glazes and slips to try out! We've gathered some of our favorite raku glaze recipes in a convenient recipe-card format, perfect for printing and taking to the pottery studio. If you are interested in building a collection of beautiful raku ceramic glazes, or adding variety to the ones you already have, you've found the perfect resource. We have a great assortment including several copper matts, a white crackle and even a shino! Maybe you already have a repertoire of glazes but want to mix it up a bit; try experimenting with a flashing slip or a terra sigillata for a variety of surfaces in the ...Read Comments (0)
10 Tried and True Low Fire Glaze Recipes: Recipe Cards for our Favorite Low Fire Ceramic Glazes July 20, 2009
Good news for those of you who use earthenware and low-fire glazes in your studio! We've gathered some of our favorite earthenware glaze recipes in a convenient recipe-card format, perfect for printing and taking to the pottery studio. If you are interested in building a collection of beautiful low-fire ceramic glazes, or adding variety to the one you already have, you've found the perfect resource. If you've been looking for a new low fire glaze recipe to use as a base glaze for functional work or for some different surfaces in the low fire temperature range, here's a great assortment of low fire glazes to start with, from textured to matt, and from majolica to glossy transparent glazes. If you ...Read Comments (0)
Three Great Handbuilding Techniques: How to Make Pottery Using the Pinch, Coil and Slab Methods July 6, 2009
When you put a ball of clay in your hands, you just want to start making something---it’s so natural it’s uncanny. And while equipment is used to make a lot of the pottery in the world, using just your hands or a simple paddle and rolling pin can produce awesome results! Discover how to make pottery using three simple techniques, but with a twist. Make a pinch pot really big, make a coil pot from flat coils, or make slab pots square and with great textures. All you need is a ball of clay in your hands. It's all here in a free gift - Three Great Handbuilding Techniques: How to Make Pottery Using the Pinch, ...Read Comments (0)
Three Great Pottery Wheel Throwing Techniques: Tips on Throwing Complex Pottery Forms Using Basic Throwing Skills June 22, 2009
Full of great throwing tips, as well as ideas you can apply to any pottery project, these step-by-step instructions will help you improve your pottery throwing skills from concept through completion. Whether you’re interested in throwing complete pots on the wheel, like Dannon Rhudy’s citrus juicer; throwing textured parts for alteration and assembly, like Jake Allee’s stilted bucket, or if you’re simply interested in throwing larger pots right on the wheel, like Mark Issenberg’s tall vases, then wedge up some good throwing clay, pull up your throwing stool, and get that pottery wheel spinning!Read Comments (0)