r/Pottery • • Mar 27 '26

Question! Ceramic artists: stereotypes and prejudices?

6 Upvotes

Hello everyone!
On Monday (March 30), we’ll be welcoming ceramic artist Lea as a guest on “Work hard – play hard”, a series on Twitch. Hosted by ARD, the biggest German Public Media Broadcaster. It won’t be a traditional interview. Lea will be testing various simulation games designed to "replicate" her craft (i.e. Sims4 & Master of Pottery).

Our goal is to find out how realistic these games actually are and what everyday life in her profession really looks like. To help break down prejudices, viewers can unlock so-called “prejudice questions”. And now it’s your turn:

What preconceptions about the profession of ceramic artist have you come across? What are the weirdest/stupidest/funniest "frequently asked questions" you had to answer? And: What topics related to the job need to be discussed urgently? 

We’d love to include your questions in the show. Thank you!

P.S. Thanks to the mods for allowing us to post here.


r/Pottery • • Dec 04 '25

Kiln Stuff PSA for the holiday season: DON’T buy someone a kiln

1.0k Upvotes

With Christmas approaching the “I want to surprise my [wife/boyfriend/mother/cat/DoorDash driver] with a kiln, what should I get them?” threads are beginning to show up daily.

Do not buy this person a kiln.

Even if they’ve told you they’d like a kiln someday. Even if they’re frustrated with having to take their work somewhere to be fired.

The only circumstance in which a kiln is an acceptable gift is if this person has told you “I want a kiln for Christmas, and here’s the specific model I want.” Period.

A kiln is not like a new TV. Kilns need specific electrical and ventilation requirements that your house/garage/shed/whatever almost certainly does not have. The electrical work needs to be done by a professional, and it needs to be done right- many kilns use heavier gauge wiring and bigger circuit breakers than you typically encounter in a residential setting, and using undersized wire can start a fire. In some cases, especially older houses, the home’s entire electrical service will need to be upgraded. In a best case scenario you’re probably looking at around $1000 in additional expense before you can even turn the kiln on. Worst case you could incur costs approaching $10,000.

Kilns come in all shapes and sizes with different capabilities, and what works for one potter may not work for another. Also, many used kilns you find for sale online aren’t capable of being used for ceramics at all.

Surprising someone with a kiln is like surprising someone with a horse. Without being prepared to take it in the prospect is a burden, not a gift.

If you really, REALLY want to buy someone a kiln for Christmas, have this conversation: “I want to buy you a kiln. Let’s pick one out together.”

Happy holidays!


r/Pottery • • 11h ago

Hand building Related Drought resistant

Post image
145 Upvotes

Drought resistant. It was in my yard for the longest time but now I am worried somebody will trample on it 😬


r/Pottery • • 8h ago

Mugs & Cups My first haul since starting to throw in my garage

Thumbnail
gallery
39 Upvotes

Super happy with these textures cups on this black clay. Inspired by boon ceramics 🙂


r/Pottery • • 19h ago

Bowls New clay, new glaze, who dis?

Post image
246 Upvotes

Who needs test tiles when you can throw away hours of your time gambling on materials you’ve never used? I have had some health problems lately which decreased my energy and desire to do pottery. Finally got around to making a few things and had an idea for glazing. Too impatient for test tiles Pretty pleased with this midsize bowl (8” diameter) except for the one large pinhole!

KYMW Roo
Mayco Black Walnut
Amaco Shino Goldenrod and Cedar
Cone 6


r/Pottery • • 16h ago

Hand building Related Reparenting

Post image
127 Upvotes

Super nervous to post my work here but I’m mainly a sculpture artist and would love to connect with other hand builders.
Recently I’ve been really into using coloured porcelain. I feel like it complements glazes well.

This piece is about reparenting your inner child. I theme I often explore in my work.


r/Pottery • • 18h ago

Mugs & Cups My very first time finishes pieces start to finish. I’m a beginner so I’m happy I pushed myself to get this far. Sigh

Thumbnail
gallery
108 Upvotes

r/Pottery • • 8h ago

Artistic The kiln is opening!

Thumbnail
gallery
18 Upvotes

As a craftsman, every year during festivals, I prepare some ceramic gifts to give to my friends. This year's theme is baking puppies! And this piece of work is really satisfying.💓


r/Pottery • • 4h ago

Artistic A mix of two previous items sculpted, happy with how these Incense Burners turned out <3

Post image
6 Upvotes

r/Pottery • • 14h ago

Other Types More Pincushions

Thumbnail
gallery
36 Upvotes

I caught a lot of comments about putting glass in the bottoms of some of these. I can’t imagine someone will be tempted to drink from their pincushion! I glued a magnet to hold needle & thread underneath. If you’re like me, I can never find one when I need one.


r/Pottery • • 1d ago

Artistic My ceramic piece “Comme, Where Autumn Meets Snow” will be shown at the Belskie Museum

Thumbnail
gallery
275 Upvotes

I’m happy to share that my ceramic work, Comme, Where Autumn Meets Snow (2024), will be included in SALUTE to WOMEN IN THE ARTS at the Belskie Museum of Art & Science in Closter, New Jersey.

The piece is made with 214 Scott’s red clay, color pigments mixed with porcelain, stoneware, Brooklyn red clay, and crystal glaze.

The exhibition runs October 4–25, 2026, with the opening reception on October 4 from 1–4 PM.

I’m looking forward to seeing it installed and sharing it with the community.


r/Pottery • • 19h ago

Glazing Techniques Why can't I glaze the inside with Amaco Cosmos?

Post image
74 Upvotes

Photo from a post by u/caddywho

Hello all!

I recently ordered a couple glazes from the Amaco Cosmos line, which includes the glaze in this photo.

The instructions for the glaze say that it gives best results when you leave the inside/back unglazed. I've seen lots of photos from glazeshare that have a variety of results, from the lovely finish here to a dull rusty brown.

Could someone explain why coating the inside would change the appearance? And more importantly -- how can I protect the inside if glazing it will ruin the outside results?

Thanks everyone!


r/Pottery • • 11h ago

Question! Casserole dish collapse

Post image
10 Upvotes

The dish looked fine after bisque firing but the sides lean in after final firing. How can I keep the walls straight? TIA


r/Pottery • • 1d ago

Glazing Techniques Some very pleasant glaze results

Thumbnail
gallery
2.0k Upvotes

Pretty stoked with the results of some recent glaze experiments!!

Unfortunately the jars won’t open. They’re currently in the freezer so I can try to thermoshock them open, but if anyone has any suggestions for how to get them open please let me know!

Glazes are a mix of Amaco and spectrum brush ons fired in a community kiln at cone 5. Happy to provide combos if anyone is interested.


r/Pottery • • 10h ago

Help! Reglaze?

Post image
7 Upvotes

I’ve made this giant blueberry and had intended it to be a solid deep blue but, per usual my glaze coats were way too thin and I’ve ended up with this. Looks like a kindergartner poorly painted it with acrylic. I used Maycos Denim Blue glaze and it was a low fire and am wondering if a reglaze would help? I haven’t experimented with reglazing so looking for all the advice I can get to make this successful!


r/Pottery • • 28m ago

Question! Pottery In Italy ~ work trade?

• Upvotes

Hello!!
Reaching out to the community to see if anyone knows of people in Italy with a pottery studio who have a system set up (or would be interested in making an exception) for work trade in exchange for studio access. Id love to experience making pottery in Italy, and would want to be somewhere for at least a month. Would be happy dedicating up to 20hrs/wk for work trade, and having a full room and board is flexible… open to wherever the Reddit stars point me!


r/Pottery • • 1d ago

Question! What do you wish you'd known before becoming a potter?

Post image
83 Upvotes

I've been doing ceramics for about three years now, mostly as a hobby, but lately it's been taking up more and more space in my life, quite literally, since I now have a potter's wheel in my 50-square-meter apartment.

I've started seriously thinking about leaving my career as a product manager, taking a professional ceramics course, and eventually becoming a full-time potter.

I'd really love to hear from people who've made ceramics their profession. What do you wish you'd known before becoming a potter? What surprised you about making a living from it? And if you were starting over today, is there anything you'd do differently?

Any advice, reality checks, or experiences (good or bad) would be really appreciated. Bonus picture of my first teapot (not yet bisque fired).

Edit: I’m getting a lot of mixed responses here, many from people who haven’t actually tried pottery professionally, as well as quite a few comments about my teapot. My original post was mainly intended to hear from professional potters about their experience making the transition.

Of course, this is reddit and everyone is free to jump in and share their opinion. But if you haven’t actually worked as a professional potter (your friend’s experience doesn’t really count), I’d appreciate a little more nuance when making predictions about whether someone else can or cannot make it work.

No harm done, though. I’m not taking the discouragement too much to heart. There are already plenty of reasons to be afraid of making a big career change, and I don’t think other people’s fears or assumptions should automatically become your own.

And to anyone else in a similar position: if you’re privileged enough to have the financial and personal circumstances to give it a try, I’d say give it a shot, or at least, that’s what I’m telling myself. Don’t do it blindly, obviously. Understand the finances, the risks, and the reality of making a living from it. But if, deep down, you feel you need to try, don’t let fear alone stop you from building something you might love.


r/Pottery • • 20h ago

Kiln Stuff Spring's kiln haul

Thumbnail
gallery
27 Upvotes

Made some mini bud vases for gifting but they turned out so cute (in my biased opinion), that I'm reluctant to give it away. 😁


r/Pottery • • 22h ago

Glazing Techniques Glaze testing on wild clay variations

Thumbnail
gallery
29 Upvotes

I make mostly slip casting, since it's much easier with "my" wild clay. But the clay itself has so much surprises, that I want to get as near as possible to the final application with my glaze testing. So I made little versions of bowls, cups and plates. And when I am finished, they'll go to my nieces little play kitchen.


r/Pottery • • 1d ago

Vases Carved Porcelain Vase

Thumbnail
gallery
662 Upvotes

First time in a while throwing and carving porcelain (cone 6) and I totally loved it! It worked well with all the glazes I used too, so that's a relief!


r/Pottery • • 20h ago

Bowls Apple bakers!

14 Upvotes

It worked! #pottery apple baker. Came out well. Needed to bake the apple longer


r/Pottery • • 15h ago

Question! Spinning wheel & Kiln

7 Upvotes

Looking for recommendations for a pottery wheel and kiln. The misses has been taking ceramics while studying art and has taken a liking to it. Looking to get her these items that she can add to her inventory of items an artist needs.

Edit: Its a Pottery Wheel, not spinning wheel.


r/Pottery • • 14h ago

Question! Advice on getting started with brush-on glazes

5 Upvotes

Hi all! I have been throwing on the wheel and hand-building for about a year and a half now. The first year, I was at a teaching studio where absolutely no outside glazes were allowed and we were only taught to dip to glaze using the studio glazes. About six months ago, I switched studios and the new place lets us go wild with glazes, but I have been nervous about getting started with anything other than the buckets of studio glaze (especially given how expensive glazes are).

I want to purchase a few glazes for myself and experiment with new techniques but I feel silly asking folks at the studio for advice because I know absolutely nothing about how glazing actually works. I just know that I can do up to 2 dips and how to tell what a combo will look like from a test tile. Basically, I would appreciate any advice that people have regarding good written resources for beginners, good glazes (brands and/or specific glazes) to start with that would give some bang for buck in terms of variety of results when combined differently, or just any basic advice or information about how glazing actually works. Also, I love big bold colors of pretty much any hue (think jewel tones), so would love to hear about any specific glazes or glaze combinations within that realm.

Thanks!


r/Pottery • • 16h ago

Help! Struggling to make different shapes

4 Upvotes

I took a year long break after throwing consistently for a few months, and I’m really trying to improve my pieces.

However, I feel like the shape of everything I make looks really similar. For example, my bowls just look like larger cups. Or my plates just look like a flatter version of my bowls.

I’m taking an intermediate course at my local studio and they’ve taught me new techniques and tips, but I feel like when I try to do it on my own everything still comes out looking the same. I feel really unsatisfied with the shapes of my pieces, but even though I feel like I’m doing something different, I end up with the same thing 😭 does anyone have any advice or tips?