Understanding Pottery Chapter 11 Use of Local Materials Part 1 of 2

Welcome to Understanding Pottery, Chapter 11: Use of Local Materials: Treasures in your Backyard Part 1 of 2. Traditionally, potters used whatever clay, fuel, and other materials were locally available for their craft. Since the advent of technology and long-distance transportation, potters have gotten away from such materials in favor of more standardized, commercially available products. However, there is a growing interest in reconnecting with our past traditions and simpler raw materials. The discussion topic today will explore the possibilities of using locally available materials for pottery. This is part 1 of two parts.
The next topic in the series is Treasures in Your Backyard: Use of Local Materials Part 2.
Understanding Pottery is a series in production by Washington Street Studios. The video series is a digital textbook that will take you through the entire ceramic process from the raw material through the finished ceramic pieces. There are five sections and twenty-six chapters planned in the series and they are:
Section I: The Pottery Making Sequence
Chapter 1: What is Clay?
Chapter 2: Clay Properties and Drying
Chapter 3: Bisque Firing
Chapter 4: Tips for Successful Glazing
Chapter 5: Pyrometric Cones
Chapter 6: Glaze Firing
Section II: Use of Raw Materials
Chapter 7: Chemistry for Potters
Chapter 8: Glaze Chemistry
Chapter 9: Oxides, Washes, Underglazes and Stains
Chapter 10: Geology for Potters
Chapter 11: Use of Local Materials
Section III: Kilns and Firings
Chapter 12: Atmospheric Firings
Chapter 13: Wood-Fired Kilns
Chapter 14: Gas-Fired Kilns
Chapter 15: Electric Kilns
Chapter 16: Raku Kilns
Section IV: Solving Problems
Chapter 17: Kiln Performance Problems
Chapter 18: Clay Body Defects
Chapter 19: Glaze Defects
Section V: Practical Applications
Chapter 20: Pottery Myths, Errors and Misconceptions
Chapter 21: Thixotropy, Quartz Inversions and Other Pottery Mysteries
Chapter 22: Pottery and Physics
Chapter 23: Pottery Figurin’ (Math)
Chapter 24: Personal Safety with Pottery
Chapter 25: Critiquing Your Own Pottery: Design Principles You Can Use
Chapter 26: Tips for Buying Used Pottery Equipment

At Washington Street Studios, we believe the sharing of creative energy and knowledge will improve the quality of our art and increase the appreciation of art within our community. We are striving to create an environment where the arts are shared and appreciated. We want to grow as a family of artists and contribute to our community. This podcast is one of our steps to share our passion for the ceramic arts, creative energy and knowledge with other artists and art lovers.

We also created an audio version to expand our audience. If you are looking for the podcast of our show search for the ‘The Potters Round Table’ on your podcast platform of choice.

[yousofgouhar]

I was always worried about sourcing and costing of glaze raw materials ... but thankfully you made it so easy and so costless to me. Thanks Phil.

[johnnavarro]

I know a potter in West Australia that had a dam on hèr property that contained a black clay that was stoneware readily usable, so lucky. I am still looking for some nice clay in my area of Tasmania. Thanks Phil.

[ACUPOINTKAT]

Hi, I would like to thank you for your wonderful work. I am Polish, and I live next to London. I am just stated my journey with ceramics. I can tell, you have a students around the World :) I wish you all the best, Kat.

[garethbaus]

I remember when I was a kid I would often access a vain of yellow clay to play with and make mud bricks, it actually had moderately high quality texture, too bad I never tried firing it.

[mosseyw]

That was a great prank with the chocolate syrup 😂😂

[Arweqat_alfan]

It’s very Important subject, I made a research in Saudi Arabia materials .

[vicfowler]

I dug local clay from a creek bed. Processed to a nice workable clay. My problem is it won’t stick to my aluminum wheel. I have no problem sticking commercial clay.
Any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated.

[mosseyw]

Thanks for another great lecture with loads of helpful information and tips. I’ve just recently collected some rocks and was wondering how I could use them, after watching this, now I know. What did Phil mix the basalt rock with to make his glaze samples ?

[kathleenclarke]

can you slow down the ads? otherwise great...