There are a variety of rare earth metals—28 of them in the lanthanides and actinides, to be exact—and many are  … Read More

Rutile is that unbelievably beautiful glaze additive that produces colors ranging from light and dark blue, to tan, gold, yellow,  … Read More

Typically, a gemstone family possesses a base formula—just as a glaze has a base formula. The base formula is clear  … Read More

Traditionally, shino-glazed works are fired in reduction kilns—as a reducing atmosphere must be created for iron to be drawn into  … Read More

There are three phases of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. Many substances that are solid at room temperature can be  … Read More

Kilns are vented primarily to protect the health of people around the kiln. An additional benefit is that a vented  … Read More

There are two main opacifiers (one inexpensive, the other costly) commonly used in ceramic glazes. Aside from general opacity, their  … Read More

The fundamentals of bisque firing include whether to fire to a soft or hard bisque, the stages of firing and  … Read More

Many different glazes can easily be formulated from one base recipe by changing the source material for the flux, substituting  … Read More

There is a constant striving by ceramic artists to improve the workability, color, and stability of porcelain clay bodies while  … Read More