Guides
The White Stoneware That Shapes My Ceramic PracticeClay is never just a raw material in my studio. It carries a place, a rhythm, and a particular way of responding to touch. The white stoneware I use in…
How to Prevent Pinholes in Your Glaze ApplicationPinholes are tiny craters or open bubbles that remain in a glaze surface after firing. They can appear as isolated dots, clusters, or rough patches, especially…
Creating a ceramic wall sconce with a leaf designA handmade ceramic wall sconce can bring together sculpture, functional lighting, and the quiet visual language of the natural world. A leaf motif is…
Choosing the right kiln wash for ceramic shelvesKiln shelves support every firing, from small decorative plates to sculptural forms with broad, uneven bases. Because clay and glaze mature under intense heat,…
Collaborating with a local winery for a pottery and wine eventA pottery and wine event can bring together two forms of making: the slow, tactile work of shaping clay and the cultivated pleasure of sharing a carefully…
How to Use a Loop Tool for Hollowing Out Sculptural FormsA loop tool is one of the most useful instruments for turning a solid lump of clay into a lighter, stronger sculptural form. By removing clay from the…
The Art of the Foot: Shaping Stable Bases for Thrown PotsA thrown pot begins as a rotating cylinder of clay, but its character becomes clear when the base is considered. The foot determines how a vessel meets a…
Making ceramic napkin rings with organic vine motifsA handmade set of ceramic napkin rings can turn an everyday table setting into a small landscape. Rolled clay vines, leaf impressions, and softly uneven…
Why I Keep a Sketchbook of Clay Ideas from Nature WalksA walk along a Barcelona shoreline or through a pine-covered path in the Pacific Northwest rarely stays just a walk for me. I notice the curl of a dried leaf,…
Building a Barcelona Sunset in Ceramic GlazeA Barcelona sunset is never a single color. As the sun drops behind the city, terracotta rooftops catch copper light, the Mediterranean turns violet-blue, and…