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-consciouspotteryglazingebook

Find out the energy mix of a country or region using this report: https://www.bp.com/en/global/corporate/energy-economics/statistical-review-of-world-energy.html

Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube

✨Support the Podcast

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Resources for Potters:

⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available from Amazon

Free Pottery Guides:

🆓 Download the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):

🆓 Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)

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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 YouTube

✨Support the Podcast

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Resources for Potters:

⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available from Amazon

Free Pottery Guides:

🆓 Download the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):

🆓 Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)

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‘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 on YouTube

✨Support the Podcast

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Resources for Potters:

⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available from Amazon

Free Pottery Guides:

🆓 Download the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):

🆓 Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)

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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:

⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available from Amazon

Free Pottery Guides:

🆓 Download the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):

🆓 Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)

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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 their work.  

The course mentioned in this episode: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/p/make-your-own-metal-oxides-from-recycled-metal-mini-course

The book mentioned in this episode: https://www.oxfordclay.co.uk/shop/p/eco-consciouspotteryglazingebook

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 How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):

🆓 Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)

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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

✨Support the Podcast

-------------------------------

Resources for Potters:

⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available from Amazon

Free Pottery Guides:

🆓 Download the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):

🆓 Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)

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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 growth edge pushing the boundaries of your skills and experience with clay. But what can you do with your pot when it doesn't turn out the way you want it? Well, actually, there are loads of things! In this episode, we discuss 5 things you can do when the pot you're making on the wheel isn't turning out the way you wanted it, and what to do next.  

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 How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):

🆓 Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)

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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 mentioned in this episode is: https://glazy.org/

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 How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):

🆓 Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)

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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 on YouTube

✨Support the Podcast

-------------------------------

Resources for Potters:

⭐ Pottery Paperback Books available from Amazon

Free Pottery Guides:

🆓 Download the Free How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):

🆓 Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)

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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 hyperaccumulator plants used in agromining can also be used to decontaminate polluted soil.  

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 How to Make a Pottery Glaze Workbook (suitable for beginners):

🆓 Download the Free How to programme an Electric Kiln for bisque and stoneware glaze firings (includes full kiln firing schedule)

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