Oxford Clay

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...

Any plant can be turned into ash that can make a pottery glaze!  In this episode, you can hear about some of the weirdest plant-based things I’ve turned into a pottery glaze from banana skins to tea bags and pond algae! All of these plant ash glazes are in the book ‘Pottery Glazing with Plant Ash’ by Oxford Clay: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/ebooks Watch the video version of this episode...

Agromining is the practice of using plants to mine metals from the soil. In this episode we explore what agromining is, and how it could be used in the future to create eco-conscious colour in pottery. As plants grow they take up metals in the soil, and store them in their tissues. Scientists can extract these metals by harvesting the plants, drying and burning them and extracting the metals. The...

You can make a glaze from any plant ash! hear about 5 beautiful ones.  Every plant ash glaze is completely unique because of the unique mineral and trace metal composition of the ash. In this episode, you can find out about 5 of the most beautiful glazes in the book ‘Pottery Glazing with Plant Ash’ by Oxford Clay: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/ebooks From purples and browns to light pink,...

Mixing glass and ceramics can have amazing results.  In this episode, we discuss some ways to mix glass and ceramics together for beautiful decorative effects in pots.  Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast ------------------------------- Resources for Potters: ⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available from Amazon Free Pottery Guides: 🆓 Download the Free Ho...

In this episode, we talk about three barriers Potters face when seeking to make their pottery practice more eco-conscious. We discuss some great sources of information for Potters and what actions Potters can take.  The pottery materials website mentioned in this episode is: https://digitalfire.com/ Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast ---------------------...

Warping is at the top of the most annoying things that can happen to pottery! Often only appearing at the final stage of the making process, at the glaze firing stage! In this episode, we explore what warping is, why it happens and five top tips to prevent warping in your pots. Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast ------------------------------- Resources for Po...

In pottery there are a few key hazards that it is important to protect yourself against when working with clay and glaze materials. In this episode we explore the hazards in pottery and how Potters can mitigate these hazards using some simple practices and easily available safety equipment.  Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast -----------------------------...

Have you ever wondered how pottery glazes are made?  In this episode, we go through the process of making a glaze and how to read a glaze recipe. We talk about the importance of wearing an FFP3 face mask when working with powders in pottery, how to store your glaze to prevent it from drying out and what to do if you add too much water to the recipe. If you’ve never made a glaze before, it's v...

In this episode we explore the benefits of raw glazing, and some top raw glazing tips. Raw glazing is the practice of glazing a pot before it has been bisque fired, at the greenware or leatherhard stage. Many Potters don't practice this technique because it can be tricky. However, with the right clay and glazes, this technique can save Potters the time, energy and money involved in the bisque firi...

Supermarket pottery equipment best buys. Did you know that many household items for cooking, cleaning and baking can be used for Pottery making! In this episode we explore some of my favourite items easily available from supermarkets that can be used by Potters. Non-specialist equipment Is often cheaper and easier to source than specialist pottery equipment. Of course sometimes specialist equipmen...

Pottery is usually coloured with metal oxides but these are some of the most environmentally harmful pottery materials. In this episode, we explore some environmental and social issues with metal oxides. We then talk about 3 ways Potters can colour their work in more environmentally conscious ways.  Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast ---------------------...

Five top tips for avoiding the most common disasters involving plaster in pottery Plaster of Paris is such a helpful material for Potters, because it sucks the water out of clay (in a good way). Potters use a Plaster slab for reclaiming wet clay and for mould making. In a plaster mould clay shrinks allowing it to be released from the mould. Moulds can be press moulds, hump moulds or slip casting m...

Have you ever wondered whether clay is recyclable? Well the answer is both yes and no! In this episode we explore how clay can be recycled and how potters do this in a process called ‘reclaiming’. Learn about some tips for reclaiming clay as well as at what point clay can no longer be reclaimed and it has to be repurposed instead.  Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support...

Blue in ceramics is made from Cobalt Carbonate and Cobalt Oxide mined mainly in the Democratic Republic of Congo. An estimated 20-30% of Cobalt is mined by artisanal miners. In this episode we talk about some issues in the Cobalt supply chain that have been researched and documented by the human rights organisation Amnesty International. We talk about some alternative ways to create colour in cera...

What damp-boxes are, why they’re great, and how to make your own!   Damp-boxes allow Potters to prevent their work from drying out so they can work on it later. They can also help to even out the dryness of pots and prevent cracking. In this episode we talk about damp-boxes, why they are great and how to make your own very easily and cheaply from a plastic storage box. Watch the video ve...

Pottery cultivates patience, persistence, resilience and learning to accept imperfection.   In this episode, we explore how by practising pottery you can also cultivate these four special characteristics.   Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast ------------------------------- Resources for Potters: ⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available from Ama...

In this episode we explore the different ways in which eco-conscious principles can be applied to handmade pottery. From materials, to tools and pottery making practices, I highlight the areas in which eco-conscious choices can be made when making pottery.  Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube ✨Support the Podcast ------------------------------- Resources for Potters: ⭐ Potter...