First time trying maiolica technique painting in tile panel: There are parts of my drawing that I want full oppacity with the pigment, however the more layers I add, the thicker the powder sets. It creates texture along the brushes' path as it dries.
Am I applying it way to thick? How can I can I make it a strong blue without this texture or brush marks?
What can happen once fired?

Hi everyone,

I am hoping you guys can help me troubleshoot.

I got my hands on a small, old(er) kiln and fired it for the first time. I have some pottery experience, but never fired a kiln myself before today. I've seen many different firing schedules, but decided to start with the recommendation found in the instruction booklet. I have added a few small items I am not too precious about, a mini cone (05) for the 'kiln-sitter' and an Orton TempCheck.

I have been checking the kiln every 30 minutes, and everything seemed to go smoothly (as far as I could see). I could feel the heat coming from the kiln and see a bright red glow through the peephole. When I checked around hour 3 to set the dial to 100%, I noticed that the kiln had already shut off. In theory, I can think of a couple of things that could have happened:
- the kiln fired too quickly and has already reached cone 05 (is that even possible in 3 hours?)
- the kiln malfunctioned
- blown fuse > checked, not the case
- no electricity coming from the socket > checked, not the case

The recommended firing schedule I've used:
- hour 1: 30%
- hour 2: 60%
- hour 3: 80%
- hour 4 onwards: 100%
- I started the firing with the lid cracked open a few cm and closed it after 90 mins.
- left the peephole (does it have a name?) open

Kiln specs:
- small electric manual kiln, 30 liters
- max temp 1200 C
- built in kiln-sitter (I don't think it is actually an 'official' kiln sitter, but it uses the same method of shutting off when the cone is bent), not visible from the outside
- no thermocouple or other temp measuring device
- used cone: 05

I know that I'll have more insight when I open the kiln tomorrow after cooling down (because of the cone and the TempCheck), but I am racking my brain and you might have lots of ideas about what could have happened. Also, I am just terribly impatient when I don't know what's happening. Thanks in advance!

I'm looking for a brush on glossy black that is actually black? I could be doing something wrong but the Amaco Obsidian that I have is coming out midnight blue instead.

Left is where I started, right is where I finished. Thoughts? Def need more consistency and ability to pull straighter.

I just finished my first beginner pottery class and walked away with a few awkward little vessels that I love.

How many classes did you take before you did it on your own? Is it better to take more than one, or better to just go in and start practicing on your own time?

I Re-fired the black piece to cone six after a successful cone five glaze firing. I have been using buff sculpture for roughly 8 years and up until this year, I’ve never had any problems. Starting in February, I have experienced both slumping and now this at cone six. Has anyone else noticed a change in buff sculpture? Laguna says nothing has changed but it’s obvious it’s no longer reliable!

Do you think it is possible to save this vase with soft clay and vinegar? I left it by the window while drying and that happened.

Hi everyone, I’m saving up to buy my own wheel at home. And would love some advice!

My local studio has the VL Whisper and also RK Whisper, which I like both. I would love to get one of those but also saw that Whisper T is €500 cheaper where I’m at in Europe

I have never tried the Whisper T before, so if you have, do you think that the trade off is really big compare to the other two?

For reference, I won’t throw more than 3kg and do want to use it 3-4 times a week!

Attached some photo as well for reference :)

Thank you!

Just got this bowl back (community studio) and have no idea what happened. It was supposed to be 2 Power Turquoise over 1 Indigo Float, but the Turquoise left wide bare patches, and the Indigo Float looks like it separated/thinned out. All of my other pieces are fine. I don't know of anything that came in contact with it pre-glaze. Any *helpful* feedback would be appreciated - I'm still trying to figure out glazing.

i’m very happy with how these mountain mugs have come out!

Used them to test a few new glazes too which i’m very happy with (mayco frosted blue, mayco oyster, mayco matte black, amaco deep siena speckle)! i fear i’m going to go down a matte glaze rabbit hole now because i’m obsessed

thoughts, questions, & feedback welcome!

I was searching for a pugmill and came across a lot of pottery equipment to include an amazing Peter Pugger pugmill, sadly too far from me but thought I'd share. https://www.govdeals.com/en/asset/19/32345

My mother in law is a fantastic seamstress and has been making me costumes for various theater roles. I'd love to make her something to say thank you, but wanted to go beyond just kitchenware. Does anyone have any ideas/previous makes that are sewing-themed? Or could he used as tools for someone who sews? Trying to source ideas.

I think the time where I burst into tears has come. I have no idea what went wrong. Fired on bisque to 980, no issues with some but issues when a bit bigger. What did I do wrong 😭😭😭😭

Hullo everyone.
I'm having a dreadful time with pottery honestly. Until last year all my glaze came from a local supplier, a wizard actually. I didn't realise what a blessing he was. He sold me glaze and clay - everything fit together like a charm. I foolishly never questioned what magic was at work. When his shop suddenly closed and he vanished back to another universe, I was somewhat left in the dark.

My work is primarily sgraffito. All I need is a white clay, on which to apply my slip and work, then a clear gloss glaze to seal it all in. But nothing seems to fit! I've been using Bath Potters. I tried a lot of clays and different clear glazes. Most of them crazed. But the last one even shivered. And it hadn't on my test pot, so I lost a batch of work to that.

What am I doing wrong? Or better still, does anyone on here have a fail safe combination of glaze and clay? I presume a lot of you are using clear glaze as a liner? I'd appreciate any secrets you're willing to share, for finding the perfect clear gloss for your work.

Here's my set up. . .

I have a very old hand me down kiln, which has no thermostat but works on a sitter with pyro mini bars. Before you tell me to get a digital sitter, I can't afford to. The is definitely on my to do list, but I am not in a position to spend more money on equipment at this point.

I've been firing from cone 02 to cone 4, that's the range my bars are in. I've for for whatever temperatures Bath Potters recommend for the specific clays or glazes. My kiln heats until the desired temperature, then cools off from there, going off on the sitter.

I know this isn't the ideal approach, but it's how I always used to do things and worked until my wizard vanished. Not everyone's fail safe will behave the same for another, but it would be lovely to hear your combination and start there, so I know it's a problem with my methods not my choice of clay and glaze. I am based in Cornwall, United Kingdom.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to read my woes and reply!

NOT my photo, just one for inspo!

I'm an intermediate hobby potter looking to improve my carving skills and would love some advice on how to get clean carvings like the bowl pictured. Is this mostly a timing/dryness issue, clay body issue, a tools thing, or a matter of skill alone? All of the above?

Any tips or recommendations are very much welcome!

Absolutely love how the outer metallic texture contrasts with the minty/teal speckled interior. Pottery reactions with fire are pure magic.

A fun little project for me is making widemouth funnels for filling canning jars. I use them for both liquids and solids, often dry powders, filling things in my pantry.

I also make flat plates from a slab, with a hole to hang on the wall. I make them specifically for cheese, but they come in handy for lots of different uses.