​Herzfeld Pottery Studios
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The Art of Pottery
Multi Glaze Pieces
August 6, 2013
Glazing is an intrequite part of pottery. Each time the kiln is fired, although everything is done by the book, you never know exactly what the out come will be. Sometimes "mistakes" give the piece character, sometimes they make it explode all together.
Glaze is actually glass liquified. The extreme heat in the kiln is what gives the color depth and texture, of course with mixtures to amplify certain shades.
Multi glazing is a fun way to experiement with shades, colors, and depth. To properly get a multi glazed look apply under glaze to the rim of your piece, this creates the cascading effect. Wax resist the bottom and the under glaze. Dip the piece into the glaze color of choice and brush the inside of the piece.
The kiln should be fired at 2300 degrees. As with any art, have fun and experiment.
Origins of Pottery
August 28, 2013
Pottery is the art or craft of the potter. Pottery is defined by all fired ceramics containing clay. The contained clay is indicative of the region that the "pot" comes from.
Pottery and the art of creating ceramic pots stretches across the world from regions such as Asia, Ancient Greece, Persia, Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Polynesia. These areas of the world have natural resources to make up ceramics, such us Earthware, Stoneware, and Porcelain.
The art of pottery began as an art for telling stories and documentation in preliterate societies. It was later that the art grew in functionality. The first potters wheel, which dramatically aided in production and style, was invented in Mesopotamia between 6000 and 4000 B.C.
As many physical stages of pottery exist, there are more techniques to create function or art. Techniques include basic coiling, pinching, slab, carving, fluting, incising, moulding, jiggering, and jolleying.
Check out a technique on the wheel below and contact Herzfeld Pottery Studios, in southern Vermont, for a lesson, to see if pottery is for you!
Click below to see a short tutorial on centering clay on the wheel.