Category Archives: Technique

Firing, Technique

Ceramic kilns: Get to know your kiln supplier before buying

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You can go to a ceramic kiln supplier to order a kiln. But more importantly: you can also get your information and service there.

Of course you can find and buy everything online. But my advise to you: visit in person and get to know your supplier first hand before you order anything.

Recently Keramikos delivered my new kiln. They have a beautiful showroom, with new and familiar models of ceramic kilns. I always have a look around when I collect my raw materials. Especially now they have just moved to an even more spacious location at Conradweg 19 in Haarlem 🙂

In this blog my follow-up tips in case you are are looking for the right ceramic kiln for you. And where better to start than at your ceramic kiln supplier.

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Firing, Technique

Buying a ceramic kiln: Don’t forget about the orientation phase

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You want to go your own (clay) way. Got to draw your own (firing) plan. Need to stand on your own (ceramic) feet. So one day you’ll know: you’re going to buy your own ceramic kiln!

This year I invested in a new ceramic kiln, supplied by my ceramics supplier Keramikos. It was not my first kiln and yet it is always quite a task to sort everything out properly. Fortunately, I had help in my research.

And I’am happy to share that. In the upcoming blogs I am going to list my tips. Starting with the orientation phase. Because a solid investment starts with solid preliminary work…

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Firing, Personally

My new Flame has arived: we now live together!

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We had long left the seven-year itch behind us, but after almost 20 years a new desire awoke in me. My old flame disappointed me again and again. Was I tired of her? Is it time for our paths to part?

And then I met her. More and more furtive glances in her direction. A “coincidental” meeting at Keramikos. An extra round to admire her. I enjoyed her shapes, her warmth, her fiery temperament. Was this love mutual?

I took the plunge about six months ago. We had to move on together. I gathered all my courage (and money)…. And I ordered my new ceramic kiln.

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Firing, Glaze, Technique

More control over Glaze Firings? Use PTCR Measuring Rings!

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PTCR measuring rings quantify both time and temperature of the glaze firing: heat work. Why do I think that’s so important to know (and to measure)? There are several reasons for this…

But let me start with what exactly PTCR measuring rings are. PTCR stands for “Process Temperature Control Rings”, so rings to get control over your firing temperature.

And what do you get out of it as a potter? I would like to explain that in this blog.

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Inspiration, Personally, Technique

Does your creativity need a boost? Go messing around with Clay Slip!

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Le jeu de la barbotine is the same as enjoying messing around with clay slip. And another example that French is a much more elegant language than English, but that is a matter for another blog. In this blog I’m going to talk about creativity and having fun by messing around with clay slip.

Anyone who works with clay knows that it takes no effort at all to make a mess with it. And if that makes you as happy as me, then keep going…

But this time I wanted to talk about stimulating your creativity. Well, that can be done in all kinds of ways, but if you have clay, or more accurately clay slip, try the technique of Daniel de Montmollin. Yep, a famous namesake of mine from France.

All you need is a colored board in, for example, red or black and white clay slip.

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Firing, Technique

Ceramic Bisque Firing, a kiln full of promises

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The ceramic bisque firing is the first firing in the ceramic process. It’s the transformation from clay into ceramics. It’s the essential intermediate step. Between hand-shaped clay and glazed work. After this firing, there is no turning back to the clay bin.

I hear people lyrically talking about their last raku firing. Tears of joy when digging for a pot from a pit fire. Trembling hands of anticipation when opening the kiln door after a glaze firing. But never exciting stories about the first firing. No cheers when the lid of a bisque kiln is lifted.

Bowls after bisque firing

The bisque firing is the step child of ceramics. But the firing process is magical– even a bisque.

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Glaze, News, Technique

Food safe ceramics: tightened EU laws coming up

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Food safe ceramics and glazes is a complex subject. On this topic glaze technologists, toxicologists, artists, craftsmen, industrialists, lawyers and legislators meet. And I’m sure I’ve forgotten a few more. It’s also a subject I’m dealing with. Not as a glaze technologist, but as a craft entrepreneur.

A well-balanced glaze is not only durable, it is also safe for everyday use. As is my functional pottery, in EU jargon FCMs (Food Container Materials).

This means that my ceramics/glazes comply with the current EU directive ‘ceramic articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs’. But these EU laws may soon be tightened.

What are the consequences for me and other artisan potters in Europe? I had an interview about this last week by two researchers on behalf of the European Commission for Health and Food Safety.

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Inspiration, Technique

Ceramic Decals a beautiful technique and fortunately never perfect

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All techniques used in ceramics are fallible, including ceramic decals. That makes ceramics unique. And by that I really mean ceramics are always a “one-off”.

In ceramic industry, techniques are used that ensure products are very similar. But even in this well controlled environment there are always small (minimal) differences. In fact, there is always a percentage that fails due to “production errors”.

No matter how well the ceramist controls the process, failure in the production of ceramics is unavoidable. If the specifications do not fall exactly within the set frameworks, the product is irrevocably thrown onto the ceramics waste pile (the potter’s heartbreak).

And that’s fortunate, because these mountains of ceramic shards are invaluable for research into the history of ceramics. But that’s a whole different story.

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Clay, News, Technique

Tired of your old body? Get a new one! KBJ stoneware

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Tired of your old body? Try a new one! KBJ Stoneware, a new clay body from Valentine is more than worth a try. A few weeks ago I received a bag when I picked up my order of raw materials from my supplier Keramikos. I immediately wanted to sink my teeth into it ….. well, in a matter of speaking.

KBJ stands for Keith Brymer Jones, yes, the one from the Great Pottery Throw Down. Valentine Clays is a renowned clay producer from Stoke-On-Trent, at the heart of the English ceramics history.

Together they have developed a new “off white stoneware body” for throwing and hand forming. A clay mixed with Keith’s tears. A silky soft clay that melts under your hands, but can be fired from 1120 to 1280 C.

Rotate with Valentine KJB Stoneware Clay

Do you ever have the feeling you are ready for something new? Does your old body no longer feel like it used to? Then try a new one!

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Glaze, News, Opinion, Technique

The best ceramic glaze book of the year

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What is the best ceramic glaze book of this year? If you ask me, that’s “Special Effect Glazes” by Linda Bloomfield. This is the first book that explains how to analyze (special) glazes using the UMF and plotting it on the Stull Chart. The author also explains how you can do this easily: by using Glazy.org.

This is the modern way to discover the “mechanism” behind the glaze. In other words “what makes this glaze tick“. She is not the first to analyze glazes in this way. Matt Katz of Ceramic Materials Workshop in particular is the driving force behind this contemporary view. But he hasn’t (yet) written a book about it.

Ceramic Glazes Test Tiles 2

In short, as far as I am concerned , this is the book to show 21st century ceramists the way to that new manner of discovering ceramic glazes.

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Technique

Is handmade pottery microwave safe?

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I have noticed that there is still a lot of confusion whether handmade pottery is microwave safe. Sometimes all ceramics are considered unsuitable for use in the microwave.

But rest assured, your favorite handmade cup or plate can be absolutely suitable for the microwave, provided the ware does not absorb water(!). In addition, the piece should be finished with a suitable glaze for daily use. But that is always important, not only for microwave use.

So you can use handmade pottery as you like, even in the microwave.

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Glaze, Technique

Are handmade ceramics dishwasher safe?

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Does the dream of surrounding yourself with handmade ceramics have practical objections such as dishwasher safe? To be beautiful, …uh.. use beautiful ceramics … means suffering?

Or better yet to quote the Dutch poet Willem Elsschot:

[…] for between dream and deed
laws  and practical objections stand in the way
(Willem Elsschot 7 May 1910)

Handmade ceramics in actionFortunately not! Handmade dream ceramics and dishwasher convenience do not encounter any practical objections. At least when the glazes used are properly designed and fired correctly.

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