Guides
Drying Clay Slowly in a Humid Basement Without a Humidity DomePottery studios tucked into Australian basements face specific drying challenges. In Sydney's humid eastern suburbs or Brisbane's subtropical climate, lower…
Sculpting a small octopus tentacle that wraps around a candle holderTentacles drifting along a rockpool have long inspired coastal ceramicists. In Fremantle, Byron Bay, and along the Mornington Peninsula, octopus motifs appear…
a satin matte glaze from scratch for a soft sea glass finishA satin matte glaze sits comfortably between glossy and fully matte, offering a velvety surface that catches light without reflecting it sharply. When tinted…
Vases, Crowds, and Conversations: My Market Stall AdventuresSelling handcrafted ceramic vases at local markets across Australia has become one of the most rewarding chapters of my pottery practice. From the salty breeze…
Crafting a Pebble Texture on a Slab-Built VaseThere's something quietly satisfying about a vase that feels like it was pulled from a riverbed. Pebble-like textures catch the light in soft, irregular ways…
Handcrafting a Ceramic Bell with an Acorn Shaped ClapperThe gentle resonance of a handmade bell carries a quality that mass-produced metal versions rarely achieve. When the clay body is shaped by hand and tuned by…
Inside My Travel Sketchbook for Fresh Nature-Inspired Ceramic MotifsThere's a battered Moleskine wedged between my glazes and underglazes that follows me on every trip, its pages soft from sea air and the occasional splash of…
How to Throw a Plate That Doesn't Warp in the KilnA flat plate that comes out of the kiln with a gentle saddle or a raised rim is one of the most common frustrations in studio pottery. Hours of centering,…
The Care And Feeding Of A Kiln ShelfA kiln shelf looks simple, yet it quietly determines how safely and cleanly a firing finishes. It supports every pot, tile and sculpture inside the kiln,…
Two glazes, one bowl: creating a striking dip-dye finishThere's something quietly satisfying about a vessel that carries two distinct tones in one fluid transition. A dip-dye glaze treatment offers exactly that—a…