Working with ceramics requires creativity for the most part and scientific knowledge. Firing is an essential step in the ceramic process. Firing is the process of applying controlled and sustained heat to the clay in a kiln. This process subjects the clay to several physical and chemical changes. It’s important to understand the firing process to you get better results. Here are some of the basic you need to know. There are many types of firing and each produces a different result. Keeping things simple, lets discuss bisque firing and glaze firing in an electric kiln. Bisque or biscuit firing ..read more

There is intimacy and creativity in a pinched project that is un-matched. Created from a single lump of clay, pinched pots have the direct imprint of the artist’s fingers and thumbs. Many people think pinch pots are boring and have no idea how to use a pinching technique to translate their ideas into physical form. Teachers sometimes avoid pinch pot projects because it doesn’t excite students or beginners. Don’t dismiss pinching just yet. Lets us first explain the pinching technique, then we can explore how to make use of this technique by break down the creative designing and making process ..read more

We all love fine and delicate tableware that conjures up images of cakes and little sandwiches with friends. Be it a mug with a large handle or a lovely cup and saucer set, exploring the reasons we prefer on design over the other is a valuable exercise to inform our own making process. Understanding the design element of what you want to make means thinking through the object and having a plan. You don’t need to consider semi industrial process like slip casting as most well-designed ceramics are handmade in a small studio environment. The 3 basic handbuilding techniques are enough to create ..read more

Ceramics is wonderful for your soul and spirit, yet it can be a strain for your neck and back. It is easy to hurt your back while hunching over the potter’s wheel or bent over a table decorating your pot. Sometimes picking up a heavy bag of clay can put a strain on your body and cause soreness in the back and neck. To make sure everyone stays fit and healthy at the studio here are some general recommendations for warming up and stretching your body before you start your work. Its important to remember while at the studio to warm up your muscles before starting to work, taking regular breaks ..read more

What is greenware? Greenware is unfired clay pottery referring to a stage of production when the clay is mostly dry (leather hard) but has not yet been fired in a kiln. Greenware may be in any of the stages of drying: wet, damp, soft leather-hard, leather-hard, stiff leather-hard, dry, and bone dry. At this stage, it is still possible to work the object by adding more clay, or wetting it so it softens and then reshaping it. Don’t confuse greenware as a stage of production with Greenware referring to Chinese Celadon pottery in a range of jade-like green colours or Greenware software that is d ..read more

The expression "Islamic art" is a term used to describe visual arts, created by Muslim and non-Muslim artists after the 7th century, who lived in the regions occupied by Muslims and cultures of Islam. Examples of Islamic art can be seen in forms such as architecture, architectural decoration, ceramic art, lusterware, faience mosaics, relief sculpture, wood and ivory carving, friezes, drawing, painting, calligraphy, book-gilding, manuscript illumination, lacquer-painted bookbinding, textile design, metalworking, goldsmithing, and gemstone carving. Historically, Islamic art has developed from a ..read more

As more and more people come into the studio, we start to see more creativity and get a lot of inspiration. One of the best ways that our members show off their creative talents is in how they decorate their ceramics. There is a lot of anticipation and patience when making the shape and form of a ceramic object, but decorating the object, is perhaps, the most rewarding aspects of working with clay. Paper resist is one of the most basic decoration techniques, but can give you a variety of great results. You can give your ceramic object a unique flare and identity with this simply decoration te ..read more

Whether you are pinching a cup or throwing a bowl, thinking about the addition of a foot will add character and elevate your piece. Feet are not a necessity, and don’t impact the functionality of the object you are making. However, the addition of a foot to a bowl can change the entire perception of your object. There are many way to add a foot to your piece, both for handbuilding or wheel throwing practice. There are different ways to add a foot to a hand-built objects. The most basic of feet is a foot ring that appears as a hollowed-out ring underneath the pot or bowl. You can do this by a ..read more

Spring is here and soon the summer heat will be upon us. Does reaching for a hot cup of tea in the heat seem like a crazy idea? The short answer is No; you will feel cooler as your body starts to sweat more and that sweat must be able to evaporate for you to feel that cooling effect. Good news for us, its means making more teapots. Making a teapot can be a challenge. A few of the challenges that you may come across could be where to place the handle and spout. Also deciding the best size and shape of the lid needs careful consideration. When you create a well-balanced teapot that pours with ..read more

Currently we teach 2 sculpture classes a week, and we get asked a lot whether sculpture and handbuilding are two different things. There are many debates on this subject from artists and academics, we like to take the practical approach. Hand building is the method and technique to make an object, sculpture is just one of the many possible outcomes of handbuilding. When teaching sculpture, we focus on the method of handbuilding that can involve making coils, cutting slabs or pinching pots. How you arrange these together will result in a sculpture. The different between a vessel and a sculptur ..read more