Oxford Clay

By Katherine Tomlinson

Chats about pottery with an environmental focus. Tune in for pottery tips and a discussion of issues in the handmade pottery industry today. Oxford Clay creates resources for Potters seeking a more

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FAQs about Oxford Clay:

How many episodes does Oxford Clay have?

The podcast currently has 110 episodes available.

Oxford Clay episodes:

November 12, 2023 40. Prioritising Your Creativity with Emily Marston from Emily Marston Ceramics
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 workshops, and the things she does to prioritise and nourish her own creativity. I hope it inspires you to prioritise and nourish your own creativity too.
Check out Emily’s Pottery here:https://www.emilymarstonstudio.co.uk/
Find out more about Emily’s pottery workshops here: https://www.emilymarstonstudio.co.uk/ceramicworkshops
Follow Emily on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/emilymarstonstudio/
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube
✨Support the Podcast
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Resources for Potters:
⭐ Pottery eBooks
⭐ 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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Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!
Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: [email protected] with the subject line ‘Podcast Question’.
...more
34min
October 29, 2023 39. What is the Difference Between Earthenware and Stoneware in Pottery
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
✨Support the Podcast
-------------------------------
Resources for Potters:
⭐ Pottery eBooks
⭐ 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)
------------------------------------
Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!
Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: [email protected] with the subject line ‘Podcast Question’.

...more
17min
October 15, 2023 38. 3 Amazing Pottery Books To Inspire You
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 Glazes: collecting and making, by Miranda Forrest, 2018, New Ceramics
Paperclay: Art and Practice, by Rosette Gault, 2018, New Ceramics
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube
✨Support the Podcast
-------------------------------
Resources for Potters:
⭐ Pottery eBooks
⭐ 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)
------------------------------------
Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!
Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: [email protected] with the subject line ‘Podcast Question’.
...more
15min
October 01, 2023 37. How to Stop Cracking in Pots
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 slip-cast (which are notoriously prone to cracking!)
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube
✨Support the Podcast
-------------------------------
Resources for Potters:
⭐ Pottery eBooks
⭐ 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)
------------------------------------
Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!
Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: [email protected] with the subject line ‘Podcast Question’.
...more
15min
September 17, 2023 36. What is a Kiln Firing Schedule?
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.
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube
✨Support the Podcast
-------------------------------
Resources for Potters:
⭐ Pottery eBooks
⭐ 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)
------------------------------------
Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!
Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: [email protected] with the subject line ‘Podcast Question’.
...more
19min
September 03, 2023 35. Cultivating Abundant Creativity with Ruth Harris from Catkin Tree Studio and Field and Fabric
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 the podcast where I ask Ruth all about how her own creativity works in her businesses. Ruth explains what inspires her and some tips for listeners on how they can cultivate their own abundant creativity.
Check out Ruth’s businesses here:
Catkin Tree Studio
Field and Fabric
Follow Ruth’s businesses on Instagram here:
Catkin Tree Studio
Field and Fabric
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube
✨Support the Podcast
-------------------------------
Resources for Potters:
⭐ Pottery eBooks
⭐ 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)
------------------------------------
Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!
Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: [email protected] with the subject line ‘Podcast Question’.
...more
25min
August 20, 2023 34. A Potter’s Secret Weapon: Baking Equipment!
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 that Potters can use in their practice.
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube
✨Support the Podcast
-------------------------------
Resources for Potters:
⭐ Pottery eBooks
⭐ 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)
------------------------------------
Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!
Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: [email protected] with the subject line ‘Podcast Question’.
...more
21min
August 06, 2023 33. 3 Pottery Tool Swaps for More Eco-friendly Pottery
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 Potters:
⭐ Pottery eBooks
⭐ 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)
------------------------------------
Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!
Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: [email protected] with the subject line ‘Podcast Question’.
...more
15min
July 23, 2023 32. Packaging Pottery Plastic-Free
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. Find out how to package pottery using one hundred per cent paper and cardboard packaging which is sealed with paper tape and vegetable starch glue.
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube
✨Support the Podcast
-------------------------------
Resources for Potters:
⭐ Pottery eBooks
⭐ 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)
------------------------------------
Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!
Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: [email protected] with the subject line ‘Podcast Question’.
...more
10min
July 09, 2023 31. How to Assess The Environmental Impact of Any Pottery Material
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
-------------------------------
Resources for Potters:
⭐ Pottery eBooks
⭐ 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)
------------------------------------
Get your pottery question answered on the podcast!
Submit your pottery question to the Oxford Clay podcast by emailing your question to: [email protected] with the subject line ‘Podcast Question’.
...more
16min

FAQs about Oxford Clay:

How many episodes does Oxford Clay have?

The podcast currently has 110 episodes available.