Get ready for the wonderful and hilarious ceramic artist Lisa Orr! In this episode of our new For Flux Sake segment Fluxed Up, we dive into the precarious world of ceramics filled with personal stories, studio mishaps, and the ever-elusive perfect glaze. Join us as Lisa shares her journey with making low fired white wares, the influence red iron oxide has on aventurine glazes, and her recent research into Persian luster firing. Also, the gang talk about Lisa’s development of the Rocket Kiln, a fast-firing smokeless wood kiln. Tune in for a dose of humor, technical tips, and a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a ceramic artist. Got questions or need advice? Drop us a line at [email protected]

This week’s episode features the following topics: Glaze Troubleshooting, Rocket Kiln, Studio Stories, Ceramics Confessions, Lisa Orr, Red Iron Oxide, Filter Press, Studio Anecdotes, Behind the scenes, Potter, Ceramic Artist

Today's episode is brought to you by Bailey Pottery Equipment and Archie Bray Residency.

Have you ever heard of an Oolite? Find out more about this rare and interesting glaze precipitate on this week’s episode. The gang also take a trip to materials corner to discuss new potassium feldspars that could replace Custer Feldspar, and answer a question about kiln venting. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at [email protected] and you could be featured on an upcoming show.

This week’s episode features the following topics:

Glaze troubleshooting, kilns, kiln vent, Oolite, Custer Feldspar, Potassium Feldspar

Today's episode is brought to you by Bailey Pottery Equipment and Archie Bray Residency.

Join us as the For Flux Sake gang dive into layering glazes. Have you ever noticed some glazes look better below others, but not on top? Find out why the order you apply them matters and more on this week’s episode. We also have a surprise visit and a great question about Gillespie Borate from their #1 superfan Kookie Kane. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at [email protected] and you could be featured on an upcoming show.

This week’s episode features the following topics:

Glaze Troubleshooting, layering, Colemanite, Gerstley Borate, Gillespie Borate, Boron

Today's episode is brought to you by Bailey Pottery Equipment and Archie Bray Residency.

Get ready for a wild ride in the studio with ceramic artist Nick Sevigney! In this episode of our new For Flux Sake segment Fluxed Up, we dive into the precarious world of ceramics filled with personal stories, studio mishaps, and the ever-elusive perfect glaze. Join us as Nick shares his journey from porcelain skepticism to newfound appreciation, the impact of the Custer Feldspar shortage, and reveals the trials of handling glaze disasters. Plus, we uncover the joys and frustrations of gallery life and laugh over some truly memorable teaching moments. Tune in for a dose of humor, technical tips, and a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a ceramic artist. Got questions or need advice? Drop us a line at [email protected]

This week’s episode features the following topics: Glaze Troubleshooting, DIY, Studio Stories, Ceramics Confessions, Nick Sevigney, Custer Feldspar, Studio Anecdotes, Behind the scenes, Potter, Ceramic Artist

Today's episode is brought to you by Immaterial: 5000 years of Art, One Material at a Time, a podcast from the Met Museum.

We're kicking off Season 4 of For Flux Sake with a bang—or should we say a "ping"? Matt, Rose, and Kathy are joined by producer Ben to unveil some exciting surprises awaiting you in the new season. We're firing up a conversation about shivering, crazing, and all the unpredictable quirks that come with ceramics. Why is your glaze flaking off? Could your firing cycle or even hand sanitizer be the culprit? And what’s the deal with delayed crazing? We're here to get to the bottom of your ceramic problems! If you’d like to be featured on a future episode of the show please send your audio questions to [email protected].

This week’s episode features the following topics:Shivering, Crazing, Delayed Crazing, Paint your own pottery, Vitrification, Low-Fire Ceramics, Clay bodies, Thermal expansion

Today's episode is brought to you by Immaterial: 5000 years of Art, One Material at a Time, a podcast from the Met Museum.

In Episode 72, the gang discuss using acrylic paints on pottery. You'll learn when it's safe to use acrylics and find out the effects of firing temperature on your cold-finished pieces. Also we'll get into pyrometric cones yet again and break down the difference between cones and temperature readings. Why are those last crucial 100 degrees Celsius so important? And finally, we're discussing the benefits of bisque-firing underglazes. Discover how this step can help prevent color bleeding and other potential glaze flaws. Glazing problems? Kiln meltdown? Send your questions to [email protected] - you might hear the answer on the show!

This week’s episode features the following topics:            

Acrylic paint, painted ceramics, ceramic sculpture, cold finish, pyrometric cones, kiln firing, heatwork, temperature, underglaze, glaze flaws

Today’s episode is brought to you by Immaterial: 5000 years of Art, One Material at a Time, a podcast from the Met Museum.

We start today’s episode learning why self-supporting cones are crucial for accurate firings, as well as everything you need to know about using cone plaques, from proper placement to reusability. We also delve deep into the world of firing temperatures talking about how to achieve vibrant colors at cone 10 while exploring the influence of alkaline earth fluxes on chemistry. Have you been thinking of substituting feldspars in your glazes recently? Make sure to listen and learn about the importance of finding the perfect feldspar match to balance your glaze chemistry.

Confused about glazes or facing a kiln crisis? Don't suffer in silence! Send the For Flux Sake crew a voice memo or message with your question to [email protected] - your problem could be solved on-air!

Today’s episode is brought to you by the 28th Annual Bray Benefit Auction.

This week’s episode features the following topics:

Pyrometric cones, cones, kiln, firing temperature, firing atmosphere, cone 6 vs cone 10, blue glaze, green glaze, copper carbonate

Listen in as the gang visit Materials Corner to discuss the latest updates surrounding the loss of Custer. Matt also answers a question from a brewer about the source of water that you use in your glazes. The answer might surprise you! Also, Kathy and Rose share how they've both used CMC in glazes and Matt dives into the science behind it.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Cornell Studio Supply.

This week’s episode features the following topics:

Water, Custer Feldspar, Glaze troubleshooting, CMC, material substitution

Listen to episode 69 where Matt, Rose, and Kathy discuss a listener's question about the use of ceramic bowls in the hair salon. Can ceramic be safely used for mixing hair dye? The team delves into the chemistry to determine if these bowls are a safe choice or a potential disaster.

Thinking about going green in the studio? The gang dives into listener concerns about sustainability in a large community ceramics space. Is lowering firing temperatures the answer?  What about the materials themselves? Join the discussion as they explore how to strike a balance between eco-friendly practices and keeping a community studio functional.

Today's episode is brought to you by Bailey Pottery Equipment.

This week’s episode features the following topics:

Toxicity, leaching, glaze chemistry, glaze flaws, sustainability, eco-friendly, firing temperature, recycling clay, cone 10, cone 6

In episode 68, we're getting schooled on Shino glazes! Matt, Rose, and Kathy discuss some of the history, science, and stunning beauty of these unique glazes. The gang also takes a deep dive into the murky waters of water chemistry in glazes. Is it the secret ingredient or a total myth? 

We'll also debunk some common misconceptions and explain why getting to know your specific gravity and viscosity is the real key to glaze consistency. Can you substitute tin in your glazes? Spoiler alert- it depends. Join the fun and listen in on the latest episode of For Flux Sake!

Today's episode is brought to you by Bailey Pottery Equipment.

This week’s episode features the following topics: 

Shino glaze, Japanese ceramics, specific gravity, viscosity, glaze application, glaze troubleshooting, glaze firing, material substitution, tin oxide