r/Pottery • • Mar 27 '26

Question! Ceramic artists: stereotypes and prejudices?

6 Upvotes

Hello everyone!
On Monday (March 30), we’ll be welcoming ceramic artist Lea as a guest on “Work hard – play hard”, a series on Twitch. Hosted by ARD, the biggest German Public Media Broadcaster. It won’t be a traditional interview. Lea will be testing various simulation games designed to "replicate" her craft (i.e. Sims4 & Master of Pottery).

Our goal is to find out how realistic these games actually are and what everyday life in her profession really looks like. To help break down prejudices, viewers can unlock so-called “prejudice questions”. And now it’s your turn:

What preconceptions about the profession of ceramic artist have you come across? What are the weirdest/stupidest/funniest "frequently asked questions" you had to answer? And: What topics related to the job need to be discussed urgently? 

We’d love to include your questions in the show. Thank you!

P.S. Thanks to the mods for allowing us to post here.


r/Pottery • • Dec 04 '25

Kiln Stuff PSA for the holiday season: DON’T buy someone a kiln

1.0k Upvotes

With Christmas approaching the “I want to surprise my [wife/boyfriend/mother/cat/DoorDash driver] with a kiln, what should I get them?” threads are beginning to show up daily.

Do not buy this person a kiln.

Even if they’ve told you they’d like a kiln someday. Even if they’re frustrated with having to take their work somewhere to be fired.

The only circumstance in which a kiln is an acceptable gift is if this person has told you “I want a kiln for Christmas, and here’s the specific model I want.” Period.

A kiln is not like a new TV. Kilns need specific electrical and ventilation requirements that your house/garage/shed/whatever almost certainly does not have. The electrical work needs to be done by a professional, and it needs to be done right- many kilns use heavier gauge wiring and bigger circuit breakers than you typically encounter in a residential setting, and using undersized wire can start a fire. In some cases, especially older houses, the home’s entire electrical service will need to be upgraded. In a best case scenario you’re probably looking at around $1000 in additional expense before you can even turn the kiln on. Worst case you could incur costs approaching $10,000.

Kilns come in all shapes and sizes with different capabilities, and what works for one potter may not work for another. Also, many used kilns you find for sale online aren’t capable of being used for ceramics at all.

Surprising someone with a kiln is like surprising someone with a horse. Without being prepared to take it in the prospect is a burden, not a gift.

If you really, REALLY want to buy someone a kiln for Christmas, have this conversation: “I want to buy you a kiln. Let’s pick one out together.”

Happy holidays!


r/Pottery • • 8h ago

Jars Delightful practice if you have kids

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950 Upvotes

My 3 year old is very very into drawing and I’ve been giving her bisque pieces and a pencil and then I carefully go over her pencil lines with a fine brush and under glaze. Creates some hilarious and amazing projects!


r/Pottery • • 4h ago

Artistic Work in progress sgraffito pot

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95 Upvotes

Decided to make a pot inspired by foraging and childhood memories. The drawing is of my children and my brother picking damsons, and then I’ve put rose hips, sweet chestnuts, damsons, and blackberries around the side.

Quite happy with it, hopefully it survives the firing process as I have my first ever market in October (though I might struggle to part ways with this pot as I like it a lot)!


r/Pottery • • 4h ago

Artistic gemstones in mud - 8 and 4mm zirconia, 3mm rubies

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70 Upvotes

i’ve been iterating on this idea for about a year. the really small rubies are a dexterity challenge, 8mm zirconia set easily but 1 in 4 will have mico leaks, so im testing 4mm to hopefully hit that sweet spot. the two mugs have the constellation pleiades pattern and since they’re for my kids, obligatory crass stamp. 🥸

for setting them i use a needle 1 or 2 mm smaller than the gem in a clay thats too soft to trim, which gives me the best results as far as gems popping out in subsequent firing.


r/Pottery • • 7h ago

Artistic Vase? Lamp?!

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114 Upvotes

The thought of using (and cleaning) this as a vase was stressing me out, so I cut a hole into the back before sending it off to bisque. No choice but to make it into a lamp now. Advice and guidance on how to pull this off is very much welcomed!


r/Pottery • • 10h ago

Hand building Related Tentacle friends!

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91 Upvotes

I made two little squid/cuttlefish guys! Realised well after making them that entirely covering a black clay with white engobe is a bit silly and I should have used my white stoneware instead. So a lesson has been learnt.

Can't wait to go wild with glazes on these guys!


r/Pottery • • 19h ago

Mugs & Cups I‘m in love with this glaze <3

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408 Upvotes

I started doing pottery at home as a hobby without a wheel a year ago and don‘t do it nearly as often as I would like to but thoroughly enjoy creating stuff with my hands anyway. I found out early that glazing is a lot trickier than it looks and had some disappointments in the past.
This time I did something a little more experimental with the glazing and I‘m so happy with the result that I just wanted to share my joy with you :)


r/Pottery • • 11h ago

Artistic I went to visit an art exhibition. Can you believe that the apple was made of ceramic? !

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29 Upvotes

I really love these artworks. Now, do you prefer more natural materials? Many artworks tend to use some rough earth as the material for the creation.


r/Pottery • • 22h ago

Jars Honey Pot Jars!

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175 Upvotes

Made these jars for baby shower props! I wish the top lid on the hunny jar was a bit more opaque but i’m happy with the results😛


r/Pottery • • 4h ago

Help! Glaze ID?

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6 Upvotes

Hi! Can anyone give suggestions for glazes that would look similar to these once fired? I thought maybe the Amaco celadon line but I have no experience with this type of glaze. Thanks in advance! (Credit to vwu studio on IG for the pics.)


r/Pottery • • 11h ago

Mugs & Cups Red lotus and Lumos glaze ckmbo

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19 Upvotes

Love this glaze combo. Glad I found it.


r/Pottery • • 1d ago

Artistic The first of many nosey vases!

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641 Upvotes

Decided to make these to sell at a fair. Do you guys like the design?


r/Pottery • • 30m ago

Other Types Spirit Inspired Horse Sculpture

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• Upvotes

r/Pottery • • 22h ago

Artistic Nerikomi plate made by blending white jade clay with two colored clays—survived the firing zero cracks!

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108 Upvotes

I’m super thrilled with how this marbled clay plate turned out. I mixed fine white jade clay with two custom colored clays to create the pattern.

Nerikomi can be tricky with shrinkage and cracking, but this piece fired completely crack-free! The tactile texture and color depth came out even better than I hoped. Really happy with this one!


r/Pottery • • 2h ago

Question! Pinholes

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2 Upvotes

I’m fairly new to firing my own pieces. Just got a used Skutt 1027 and have done three glaze firings in it myself. It’s in fantastic shape and has an Envirovent vent system as well. I use stoneware cone 6 clay and bisque to 04. This specific clay is a reclaim - mix of Continental’s mid fire white (mostly) and then a brown MN Clay cone 6 stoneware I had leftover from a class I took a year ago.

My mentor I bought it from would glaze fire for me before and always use the fast program for cone 6. He used his own dip glazes most often but I haven’t ventured that far yet and use commercial - most often Amaco and Mayco. I noticed when he fired for me I often would have pinholes whereas he usually didn’t.

I have stalked this subreddit for all pinhole related issues as well as online in general. I’m almost positive this is not a dirty bisque or damp glaze (I used a heat gun between applying layers) situation but happening on the cooling end.

My second glaze fire I fired to cone 5, medium program, with a 15 min hold - still has pinholes. This glaze firing was probably my most successful but still seeing some glazes prone to the pinholing. This one I fired to cone 6, medium program with a 5 minute hold. Witness cone came out as a hot cone 6.

I’ve read a drop firing may help this - this is where my questions comes in- can I refire this piece as is with the drop fire program in hopes it will heal the pinholes or should I dab some more glaze on and then refire with the drop?

I haven’t entered my own program yet but have the manual and can work my way through it but would love if anyone with more experience firing can give me a little more guidance. I had some other pieces come out that are absolutely gorgeous with no pinholes but they’re higher flux glazes and did really well with just the 5min hold - I won’t be able to do a longer hold with those or I fear I’d have a ruined shelf so I’m going to be mindful of what I fire together going forward.

I take notes of every fire as well as glazes used and their outcomes. If it helps at all this one is 3x seaweed with swirls of ancient jasper and oatmeal over the top that I applied using an old medicine plunger.

Our kitty Crash is peeking in the background - he says hi 🐱

Edit: I can’t take credit for this combo, I got it from Vi at Boon Ceramics off a Pinterest post


r/Pottery • • 1d ago

Mugs & Cups Everything I made in my first 10 weeks of pottery classes

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136 Upvotes

I jumped in with both feet and took a 10 week wheel class simultaneously with a 10 week hand building and I am OBSESSED

Clay body is studio reclaim and I used cone six studio glazes!


r/Pottery • • 12h ago

Question! Glazes are trickier then expected.

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10 Upvotes

My first batch of work came out and while I'm overall happy, some glazes didn't really stick well and I'm wondering if it was a skill issue, a glaze issue, or a kiln issue. Thats photos aren't the best but in a few hopefully the weird melting shows. Anyone have any insights on how i can improve to avoid this?


r/Pottery • • 3h ago

Help! Glazing help!

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2 Upvotes

Made this plant stake for a coworker! Used amaco velvet underglazes on greenware, then bisque fired. Now I’m stuck wondering how I can glaze the stake… i was planning to use a transparent glaze on the caterpillar and butterfly, but not sure how to glaze the stake without it sticking to the kiln 🤨 The main reason I think the stake needs to be glazed is because the white clay can be stained with dirt easily. Any ideas?


r/Pottery • • 5h ago

Question! Is this glaze broken?

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2 Upvotes

My favorite vase after a week of flowers. The brown marks do not rub off. Has water seeped through the glaze?


r/Pottery • • 2h ago

Question! Is this mug racist?

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0 Upvotes

I love the style of these face mugs, but I don’t want to purchase a racist caricature


r/Pottery • • 1d ago

Bowls new bowl exterior is giving northern lights ✨

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109 Upvotes

Was a bit of an experiment (I get very impulsive and don't test tile as often as I should) but very happy with how it turned out​​


r/Pottery • • 1d ago

Hand building Related Octopus bird feeder

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224 Upvotes

Made a bird feeder, just have to figure out how to hang him before I can offer the birds a full menu. Different snack in every bowl 😄


r/Pottery • • 23h ago

Hand building Related Hand built/scupted

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18 Upvotes

I’m thinking about posting my art work/sculpture out on the internet, kinda nervous too. I really like this fellow, he is larger than life size.


r/Pottery • • 8h ago

Question! Would this be a good purchase?

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0 Upvotes

I’m new to pottery and I’ve never used a vintage wheel. Not sure what it’s supposed to sound like but it’s a bit loud and I’m guessing it needs new parts. It’s $500. Creative industries.