Ceramic Arts Blog
15 Halloween Pottery Ideas & Ceramics Projects for the Classroom
Halloween is the perfect time to bring a little creativity, sculpture, and spooky fun into the ceramics classroom. From jack-o'-lanterns and haunted houses to ceramic ghosts and monster mugs,...
How Much Clay Does A Classroom Need?
Ordering clay for a ceramics classroom can be tricky. Order too little and you may run out halfway through the semester. Order too much and you may be left with...
Back-to-School Ceramics Classroom Checklist: Everything You Need for a New Year of Making
A new school year means fresh ideas, new students, and a ceramics classroom ready for creativity. Before the first class walks through the door, take a few minutes to make...
What Kind of Clay Should I Buy? Choosing the Right Clay Body from Sheffield Pottery
Choosing clay shouldn't feel overwhelming, but when you're staring at dozens of options—earthenware, stoneware, porcelain, grogged, smooth, cone 6, cone 10—it's easy to feel lost. Which...
Terra Sigillata: The Art of a Silky, Glossy Slip
At Sheffield Pottery, we love exploring the many ways potters can achieve beauty and finesse in their work. One classic technique that has captivated ceramic artists...
The Timeless Art of Ceramics: From Ancient Traditions to Modern Pottery
At Sheffield Pottery, we love exploring not just the craft of pottery itself, but the rich history that shaped it. Ceramics are more than clay and...
Keeping Your Ceramics Classroom Clean, Safe, and Mindful: A Practical Guide to Silica Safety
Whether you're teaching middle schoolers their first pinch pot or guiding advanced students through glaze chemistry, safety in the ceramics studio matters as much as creativity....
Woodfiring Pottery: Essential Tips, Tricks & Firing Strategies for Stunning Results
Woodfiring is one of the most captivating processes in ceramics. The flame, ash, and atmosphere all leave their signature on the work—creating surfaces impossible to achieve...
Pottery Wheel Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Wheel for Your Studio
Wheel throwing pottery is incredibly rewarding—there's nothing quite like centering clay and pulling up your first cylinder. But using the wrong wheel turns that satisfaction into...
How to Start Making Pottery at Home (Beginner’s Guide + Best Tools to Get Started)
Good news: you can start pottery at home with a tool kit, a box of clay, and a kitchen table. No studio required. The one catch is that clay has...
Having Trouble Programming Your Older Kiln Controller? Here's How to Set Up Segmented Schedules
If you're staring at an older electric kiln controller—something like a Skutt KilnMaster, an early L&L DynaTrol, or a basic 3-6 segment digital controller—and feeling lost,...
Common Casting Problems: How to Prevent Plaster Disaster
Slip casting is one of the most rewarding techniques in ceramics—until your plaster mold starts to leak, crumble, or refuse to release your cast. There's nothing...
