Ceramics Monthly Articles (Simple)

Learn why composition, flexural strength, and maximum working temperature are the most important things to pay attention to when buying and using kiln shelves.

Working in batches and retaining the marks of making, Maya Rumsey creates functional pottery decorated with color blocks and illustrations of magnolia blooms, houseplants, and the Victorian house where she grew up.

A recent group exhibition of sculpture by five artists at Verge Center for the Arts in Sacramento explored material culture, identity, trauma, and belonging.

Art history—from two-dimensional prints to ceramics—influences Susan Dewsnap’s generous forms. That rich history also informs the fluid lines and high-contrast of her slip and wax-resist surface decorations.

Husband-and-wife team Luis and Irma Cortez create traditionally inspired pottery in their Tonalá, Mexico, studio.

By mixing Zulu tradition with elements of Gothic architecture, Sandile Brian Cele has developed vessels with layered meaning that draw from his heritage and interests.

Exploring the possibilities of forming vessels with paper clay has led Italian artist Paola Paronetto to a distinctive aesthetic infused with a strong sense of design and handcraft.

Longtime professor and potter Brad Schwieger shares how he set up his detached home studio, which is nestled in the woods of the Appalachian foothills and serves as an evolving space for working and firing.

Modern methods of artifact analysis can lend insight into the cultural and social systems of historical societies, in addition to more information on the materials and techniques of the objects themselves.

Images from Current and Upcoming Exhibitions

Throwing with excessively firm clay is uncomfortable and rarely produces the best results. Thankfully, with a little time and water, you can rehydrate the clay quite effectively.

In this issue, we feature artists making utilitarian and sculptural vessel work that they design to function in specific ways.

Mesut Öztürk applies a formal background in architecture to an active ceramics practice to share feelings of sublimity and curiosity.

Information on submitting work for exhibitions, fairs, and festivals.

Gay Smith and Paul Wisotzky share glaze and flashing slip recipes that produce great results in soda firings.

Flashing slips are sensitive to atmospheric changes in the kiln, and the exposure to flame, reduction, and added fluxes creates unique coloration, patterning, and texture on the slipped surfaces.

Demystify different types of atmospheric firings with the charts and advice shared in this informative excerpt.

It’s important to continuously test your clay body to understand its different attributes and abilities. Testing will let you know how far you can push your clay and when to look for something more suitable.

Presented at Blue Line Arts in Roseville, California, “Constructed Landscapes” showcased the work of women ceramic artists who skillfully converge clay and technology to comment on place.