Oxford Clay

There is some incredible equipment out there that is not necessarily made for the handmade pottery industry, but Potters can use it for amazing results! In this 2 part episode series I’ll tell you about 16 of my favourite pieces of non-pottery equipment that I regularly use to make my pottery. There's actually so much great equipment out there that I had to split this topic into two parts! In part...

There is some incredible equipment out there that is not necessarily made for the handmade pottery industry, but Potters can use it for amazing results! In this two-part episode series I’ll tell you about 16 of my favourite pieces of non-pottery equipment that I regularly use to make my pottery. There's actually so much great equipment out there that I had to split this topic into two parts! In Pa...

Did you know that vinegar has several uses in pottery? In this episode, we explore three excellent ways Potters can use vinegar in their work, from helping to stick clay together, to thickening slips and even as an ingredient in making homemade pottery colouring oxides! Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast ------------------------------- Resources for Potters:...

Slip casting is a fantastic way of making pottery. It allows Potters to make the same shape of pot over and over again, saving time and effort. Slip casting also allows Potters to make sets of items and standardise their making process to ensure they can consistently replicate the quality of their pots. At Oxford Clay, I've been slip casting for a number of years now and have experienced a lot ups...

Plaster moulds are a great resource for Potters. Moulds can be used in pottery to press clay into (a press mould), smooth clay over (a hump mould), or pour liquid clay into (a slip casting mould). Plaster moulds allow Potters to make lots of the same shapes of pots simply and accurately. At Oxford Clay, I use a one-part plaster mould for slip-casting my work. In this episode, I talk through the st...

What are clay bodies made from and do you need to make your own as a Potter? Have you ever heard the term ‘clay body’ and been curious about what it means? Well, the ‘clay body’ and clay are the same thing! In this episode, we investigate what clay or clay bodies are made from, how they’re made and three reasons why a Potter may choose to make their own. Watch the video version of this episode on...

If you've ever felt blocked creatively in pottery or like nothing you’re making is any ‘good’ (who hasn’t?) this episode is for you! We discuss five tips for getting your creative flow back and generating original ideas in pottery. Some of them are just about getting out of our own way and not believing the thoughts our brains like to generate about our pottery practice. Watch the video version of...

There are many simple pottery material swaps Potters can do to make their pottery practice more eco-friendly. In this episode, we explore some easy pottery materials to switch from less eco-friendly to more environmentally friendly ones.  Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast ------------------------------- Resources for Potters: ⭐ Pottery Paperback Books a...

In this episode, I speak to Emily Marston from Emily Marston Ceramics. Emily runs pottery workshops in Oxford for beginners, and handbuilds pottery and ceramic jewellery from her Oxford-based studio.  Join us for this conversation about the highs and lows of making pottery! Emily tells us about her own creativity, the joy she gets from seeing other people make and fire their pottery at her wo...

Earthenware and stoneware are terms used in pottery to describe different clays and glazes. You may have wondered what the difference is between earthenware and stoneware in pottery. In this episode, we discuss the difference between earthenware and stoneware pottery and the temperatures in Celsius and Fahrenheit that classify each category. Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Sup...

In this episode, we discuss three excellent pottery books and how they have inspired both my pottery and my creativity in general. The books cover paper clay, natural glaze making and slip casting. Perhaps they will inspire you too!  The Books talked about in this episode are:  The Essential Guide to Mold Making & Slip Casting, by Andrew Martin, 2007, Lark Ceramics Books Natural Glaz...

There is nothing more annoying than finding out that one of your beautifully made pots is starting to crack as it dries, or that the handle is starting to crack off your beautifully made mug. In this episode, we explore why cracking in pottery happens and how to stop it. I go through the top tips I’ve learned to stop cracking in hand-built pots, pots that are thrown on the wheel, and pots that are...

Have you ever wondered how a pottery kiln actually fires pottery? How does a kiln know how much to heat when, and for how long? Well in this episode we discuss what a pottery kiln firing schedule is and the key terms used to describe the different stages of kiln heating and cooling. We also go through an example of what a kiln firing schedule looks like for a bisque and stoneware glaze firing. Wat...

Ruth Harris runs two creative businesses, Catkin Tree Studio, and Field and Fabric. Ruth and I first met as fellow vendors at the Didcot Craft Fair in 2021 when we were serendipitously placed on stalls next to one another.   Since then, I’ve followed Ruth’s work and have been so inspired by her approach to cultivating such a diverse and abundant creative practice. Join us for this episode of...

Did you know that Potters can use equipment originally designed for bakers? There are so many amazing pieces of equipment that bakers use for baking, cake decorating and sugarcraft that Potters can use too! Cake fondant has nearly the same consistency as clay and can be pressed, moulded and shaped in nearly the same way. In this episode, we explore some of the best baking and sugarcraft equipment...

There are many things Potters can do to switch their tools from less eco-friendly to more environmentally friendly ones. In this episode, we explore some easy swaps Potters can make, from paint brushes, and eliminating chamois leather from their practice to the ever-useful sponge. Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast ------------------------------- Resources for...

Pottery can be safely packaged and sent in the post without the use of bubblewrap. This allows the receiver to recycle all of the packaging easily and if it is disposed of in landfill, paper and cardboard packaging will fully biodegrade. In this episode, we explore the method I use at Oxford Clay to safely package work for sending in the post without the use of plastic bubble wrap or plastic tape....

It can feel overwhelming trying to understand if the pottery materials you use have a negative impact on humans, animals or the environment. In this episode we explore a simple framework you can apply to any pottery material to better understand its environmental and social impact.  Read a more detailed explanation of this framework in this book: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/p/eco-consci...

Glaze recipes may seem complicated to read but they are actually very simple. In this episode, we explore the principles of a glaze recipe and how to read them, how to weigh out the ingredients, including any colouring oxides and how much water to add when making a glaze. We also explain what to do if you accidentally add too much water to your glaze. Watch the video version of this episode on You...

‘Pulling’ a handle may seem like a very difficult thing to do in pottery, but it is actually very achievable. Pulled handles look amazing and can really elevate the beauty of a pot. In this episode we explore what pulling a handle actually means, how handles are pulled in pottery, and five of the most helpful things I’ve learned for fantastic pulled handles. Watch the video version of this episode...

Rolling out clay is a brilliant skill in pottery, you can use the slab to build a slab pot, or push clay into a plaster press mould to make a bowl or plate. In this episode we explore three tips to help you roll out clay to ensure a smooth bump-free, crack-free clay slab. Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast ------------------------------- Resources for Potters:...

Commercial metal oxides used by Potters to colour their work are some of the most environmentally harmful pottery materials. However, Potters can circumvent these supply chains by making their own metal oxides from recycled metal! In this episode, we explore the process of making Iron Oxide (rust) and Copper Oxide (verdigris) from scrap metal and how Potters can use these homemade colourants in th...

An amazing way for Potters to create consistent shapes in their work.  Slip casting is a fantastic resource for Potters who want to create the same shape of pot, multiple times. In this episode, we explore what slip-casting is, how slip-casting moulds work, and where to look if you want to learn more about this amazing pottery practice.  Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube...

Ever had one of those times where every pot you try and make goes wrong?! Here’s what to do next.  Making pottery involves a lot of trial and error, testing and ‘failing’ and there are times when it feels like everything you're trying to make is going wrong! Whilst it may feel disappointing, these are actually the times when you are learning and growing your skills the most. You are at your g...

There are so many amazing sources of pottery glaze recipes out there for Potters, but how do Potters actually find pottery glaze recipes? In this episode, we explore seven fantastic ways for Potters to find pottery glaze recipes.  17 simple glaze recipes are detailed in this book by Oxford Clay: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/p/eco-consciouspotteryglazingebook The glaze recipe website ment...