For those who reclaim/recycle clay. 

https://ceramicartsnetwork.org/ceramics-monthly/ceramic-supplies/ceramic-raw-materials/techno-file-clay-restoration/

Did a little experiment with Red Lead Cone 04 glaze. I'll have to see if I can replicate it with Bismuth Oxide which is $35 a pound vs $6, but not toxic.

From the left, just lead glaze, Manganese (trying to get a gold), Cobalt, Copper, Chrome, Nickel

There's so much nickel in the last tile I had to fire it to Cone 5 to melt it.…

Hi all,
My studio has a sale coming up
Calgary
May 5th, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Kingsland Community Centre.

Work by 25 to 30 student members of our studio.

For those trying to decipher what all those clay specs are actually relating:

Originally published in February 2019 issue of Ceramics Monthly, pages 66,67, & 68. http://www.ceramicsmonthly.org . Copyright, The American Ceramic Society. Reprinted with permission."

techno file: Clay Body Shopping

Have you ever used Glazy?

If you have not yet, please try this wonderful program. It is totally free. 

The Glazy website was created by Derek Au, an American potter and a software developer, who has a studio in Jingdezhen, China.

Try it out by yourself:   https://glazy.org

If you like it, please support Derek!

Thank you!

Silicosis killing thousands in quarries across India - Indian Express - Asia Times…

Critical temperatures.

Here is a list of critical temperatures to consider when selecting a firing schedule. The same can be used to trouble shoot potential glaze and clay defects. They are given in C and F temperatures.

130-140F (55C) (Candling) used to rapid dry green ware to bone dry pieces. Most often used by production potters to meet deadlines. Can cause stress fissures on larger pieces or with certain types of clay.

200-392F (100-200C) atmospheric moisture is…

Several recent posts inquired about pin holing in glazes: and asking if clay was involved. With that, I thought I would share some USB pics from a study I did a couple of years back.

Nep Sy is the flux of choice in most commercial bodies because of the price point; nearly a third less than the cost of potassium spars. However, Nep Sy.contains 14-20% soluble salts that migrate as the clay is drying to a bone dry state.…

While researching material for the latest newsletter, I stumbled on this gem from StudioPotter.org.  It's a well-written defense of digital printing and new technologies in the ceramic studio.  If nothing else, this graphic included in the article is relatable to many of us on a number fronts, I'm sure.…

I had intended to post frequently during the retreat, but we stayed so busy with our activities that I kept putting it off. Then suddenly, it was over. The Gallery Lodge in Kasilof, Alaska was a magnificent location for our event, and the accommodations were first class.

Dot was in the throes of building a studio on the grounds, and had much…

Arrived in Anchorage yesterday and the drive down to Kasilof was spectacular. Dot's Gallery Lodge is far better than I was expecting. We'll use the garage as our studio, but she has a new studio under construction that will be a strong community gathering point for many years. I'm so glad I met her in Fort Lauderdale two years ago. Watch this space for more as we have our Alaska clay experience. The retreat starts tomorrow.…

I often decorate my pots with brushwork.  Pursuing an ultra thin line, I've found my cat's whiskers work the best.  They're not purrfect (that's right, I said it), but they produce some interesting results.  

Taped individually to a stick, I dip the whisker into some fairly viscous underglaze, then lay it down on the pot.  No dragging, just gentle press and…

In February I heard about a major ceramic studio tour in Phoenix AZ, and decided to make an overnight trip to visit the studios and to take in the ASU Ceramic Research Center Museum, with what is widely recognized as the best collection of ceramic art, from the 1950s through the present, in the United States. I was amazed by the variety and quality…

Been a while since I have posted here. You may find some of my recent posts of interest.

best, Preston

http://picworkspottery.blogspot.com/

A journey of a thousand blogs..., uh..., begins with a blog, though I suppose this is really more of a test drive ;).

I'm finally getting around to experimenting with glazes a bit..., moving beyond the recipes provided by my instructor.

I've been looking forward to this a long time..., anticipating it.  So naturally...

When came the time to combine the dry with the wet..., what do I do?

I invert the proportion of glaze materials to water..., so end up with 4 times…

Why aged clay is smoother?

Stoneware in particular changes characteristics over time, but all clays do to some degree. The common thought is because of bacterial growth (fungus/mold, etc. Bacterial growth is a reflection of how much organics is in the clay itself (ball clay primarily). If you are getting a lot of bacterial growth on your clay: it indicates high levels of organics: which means you need to bisq slightly higher, or with a hold to burn them off…

Flat fish, swimming free on a dinner table, their goggly eyes staring, their mouths half smiling, their tails flicking and their bodies tattooed became the obsession of the end of summer.  Alongside a forest of unassuming tubular forms, each slightly beckoning or retreating, pensive or impatiently looking skywards.  The colours of the sea and the sky.  The porcelain shattered in inexplicable ways.  The glazes blistered or ran or jumped over obstacles and bridged ravines at will.  The winter…

After finishing my porcelain clay study, I have moved on to stoneware bodies. At this point, all I am doing is studying PSD (particle size distribution). Typically commercial stoneware bodies run between 10-20% large particle size ( mesh 30-70). I will not bore you with a photo gallery, but just the difference between 20% hawthorne 35m and 50% hawthorne bond 35m is very revealing. I have seen numerous clay recipes with 40-50% large clay particles in their recipe.…

I have been testing porcelain bodies for nearly two years. Recently I purchased a 1600X lab scope to help me see what I had long suspected.

This first image was taken of the clay/glaze interface: the dark area is glaze (cobalt.) The body has a strong glassy matrix and is fully vitrified: so I had to look further.

In going back over my flux tests in clay…