Studio Tour Info
Clay Pittsburgh Studio Tour at Fireborn Information for Participants I know you all have questions. I want to answer a few. Please ask about anything I forget to mention here. If you have never been to Fireborn, consider stopping by before the tour. Indoor Space: If you wish to be indoors, I have twelve Ikea […]
Intermediate Class
Fireborn Intermediate Class Prospectus So you can center and pull, now what?! The intermediate class, taught by Garick Tai-Lee (MFA, BS of Industrial Design), is here to take your throwing skills to the next level. With weekly in person demonstrations and critical discussions about pottery, students will learn what goes into making aesthetically strong and […]
Donna Hetrick Wood Fire
Wood Fired Pottery Donna has always been drawn toward firing processes that are spontaneous and unpredictable, like Raku, sawdust, and wood-firing. Recently, she has been firing in Talon Smith’s wood kiln and loving it. In a wood firing, the ash from the fire box is carried throughout the kiln by the draught and deposited on […]
Workshop – Critique Session
Workshop – Critique Session hosted By Daniel Vito What is a good pot? Is it an objective or subjective Decision? Daniel Vito will lead a discussion on approaches to pottery design, focusing on form, function and decoration. The intended outcome of this workshop is for you to be better able to analyze pottery in general, […]
Prep for Workshop on Lidded Vessels
Learn about how we make pots at Fireborn.
Glazing Basics
Learn about how we make pots at Fireborn.
Adding Value To Your Pots
adding value to your pots Presented by Daniel Vito How can you add Value to your pots? There are many simple and easy things you can do to a thrown form to make it more interesting, and also many ways to throw more interesting forms to begin with. First and second term students, as well […]
The Art of Lids
The Art of the Lid Presented by Daniel Vito Traditional design, beautiful forms Lidded vessels are a staple of the potter’s repertoire. Lids add visual complexity and interest, and offer another surface to decorate. This workshop will explore different types of lids, lid aesthetics, and technical considerations. Before plastic and glass were were commercially available […]
Ceramic Glossary
Glossary Basic tems Ceramics Glossary Slip A thick and creamy mixture of clay and water used to join clay parts together OR to decorate the surface. It is applied before firing, when the clay is still plastic or leather hard. Oxide A finely ground raw material (a metallic oxide) used in ceramics as a colorant, […]
Latest Firing and Unclaimed Pots
This is the latest info on the firing schedule and where your pots may be.
Sgraffito, Mishima and Layering
Sgraffito, Mishima and Layering Presented by Jen Curry and Donna Hetrick Learn how to use colored slips, underglazes and oxide washes. They can be combined, and inlaid (Mishima), or layered and carved (sgraffito) to create intricate and complex effects. For hands on practice bring your own leather hard pottery and brushes and tools, or use […]
Underglaze Transfers
Underglaze Transfers Presented by Betsy Wisbon Adding detail and decoration Underglaze transfers are a great way to add colorful and intricate detail to your ceramic pieces. Tissue transfers, slip transfers, and DIY screen printing are three different methods that when combined with glazing will make your pieces fun and unique. In this workshop you will […]
Velvet Underglaze Painting
Velvet Underglaze Painting Presented by Jeennie Nickolls and Daniela Krahe Adding color and decoration Join Daniela Krahe and Jeennie Nickolls to learn how they use velvet underglazes to create detailed images, patterns, and scenes on their pottery. Composition, layering, blending, brushwork, tools and materials will be discussed and demonstrated. For hands on practice, we will […]
Sectional Pots
Sectional Pots Presented by Daniel Vito Scale up the size of Your work There is a practical limit to how high you can pull up a lump of clay, no matter how many pounds you plunk down on the wheel to start with. One factor is the length of your arm, and there are others, […]
Pottery by Design
Pottery by Design Presented By Daniel Vito What is a good pot? Is it an objective or subjective Decision? Daniel Vito will discuss and demonstrate approaches to pottery design, focusing on form and decoration. Participants should have intermediate to advanced skills and bring five pieces of their pottery, in any state: greenware, bisque or glaze […]
Attachments
Attachments Presented by Daniel Vito Attached Handles, spouts, necks, feet, and Knobs add interest and complexity to your work Attachments need to be incorporated into the total design of your work so they look like a necessary and natural part of the whole, not like a clunky, stuck-on, or misplaced lump of clay. Attachments need […]
The art of the vase
The art of the vase Presented by Daniel Vito Take your design and throwing skills to the next level Functional and decorative vessels are a staple of the potter’s repertoire. Explore aesthetic principles and design parameters for vase forms. Daniel Vito will explain his design and critical thinking process. He will also demonstrate his throwing […]
Peek into the Studio
The Kiln Our kiln holds about 700 pots. We fire every three weeks on average so there is always fresh new work in the gallery. Kiln openings are always exciting. It is like Christmas morning, but it happens more than once a year! There are always surprises and the best is when an experimental glaze […]
Instructors Schedule
Back to Class Blog home Pg learn more… make better pots… For the term beginning October 18, 2021 Zach Gideon teaches Monday, Wednesday and Friday Evenings Garick Tai-Lee teaches Tuesday Evening Bennett Graves teaches Tuesday Morning Karen McKee teaches Wednesday Morning Featured posts
Simply Amazing
This man throws 30 to 40 pound pots all day long, going through thousands of pounds of clay a day. This pot took him under 3 minutes to make.
Goodbye Pots
Here are the main reasons pots end up in the dumpster: Pots are not claimed in a timely manner. After the term is over or firings are completed, you must take your work home. Pots with no dates, or the oldest dates, or illegible information get discarded first. People don’t recognize their work and deal […]
The Best Handle
Tom Coleman demonstrates the best way to pull a handle. This is my favorite way to make a handle. I was going to make this video but them I found Tom’s. He even uses the same vocabulary as I do, including “carrot”. https://youtu.be/KlaHYCbL6tY I personal don’t like the technique in the video below as much […]
Beginner Glazers Group
you are a beginner glazer unless Marked otherwise on the attendance sheet! There are three groups: Beginner, Independent, and Mentor. YOU are in the beginner group unless otherwise promoted by your instructor, and thus noted on the attendance sign-in sheet. Glazing can make or break your pot. A mediocre pot can look great with a good […]
Tools We Recommend
Should you want to add to your tool collection these are a few of the best additions, and Dan recommends them. Please note that the Kemper tools are made in multiple sizes, for example there are four sizes of hole punches, so get the exact thing I recommend. All of these are available at Standard […]
Setting up a Studio
Taking the leap Having total control of your studio space; being able to work from home; freedom to make what you want, when you want; that is the dream of many potters.How do you get there? Here are som thoughts on this subject. 1. Workspace Designated Area: A spare room, basement, garage, etc. with good […]
Custom Work
All of our dinnerware is custom-made after consultation and collaboration with the client. Glazes, pattern, style, and shape evolve. The client will get a totally unique set of dinnerware and accompanying serving pieces.
Adding Value To Your Pots
Altering, Carving, Faceting and Fluting can add value to your pots. I hope this videos help our students to find creative ways to add value to their pots, using the above techniques, and have fun with the process. https://youtu.be/7SBc2Sp5Ygg
Pottery and Death
Pottery has always had a place in ceremony and ritual, and death has always been treated with respect and prescribed funerary procedures. Often pottery played an important roll. Below are mummified remains from the sands of Egypt, 3500 years BCE. In the upper photo tower of the pots were pit fired with the rim down […]
Pottery and Beer
Mar 18, 2021 • View in browser Today, the discovery of a royal brewery in ancient Egypt expands our understanding of the history of beer. — Hrag Vartanian, editor-in-chief Discovery of an Industrial Brewery in Ancient Egypt Rewrites the History of BeerTo archaeologists, understanding the building of the Pyramids at Giza is a matter of scaling up […]
Festiva
Festiva Ware – NEW This is a new work by Daniel Vito using colorful underglaze slip painting on porcelain. Festiva- by Dan Vito-2 Festiva- by Dan Vito-14 Festiva- by Dan Vito-4 Festiva- by Dan Vito-6 Festiva- by Dan Vito-7 Festiva- by Dan Vito-8 Festiva- by Dan Vito-9 Festiva- by Dan Vito-10 Festiva- by Dan Vito-11 […]
Donn Hedman
Donn Hedman Pottery Donn grew up in Africa where his parents were missionaries. You can see the influence in his slip trailed glaze decorations. He is an excellent potter. Donn Hedman Donn Hedman Pottery Donn Hedman Pottery Donn Hedman Pottery Donn Hedman Pottery Donn Hedman Pottery Donn Hedman Pottery Donn Hedman Pottery Donn Hedman Pottery […]
Our Glazes
We have over 40 glazes. There are thousands of possible combinations. Finding the right combination for the form and function of the pot is the hard part. Terra Cotta Hanging Platter Decorated with White Slip and Markings Glaze Close-up Teapot with Celadon and Ash Glaze Detail of platter with black glaze Glaze Close-up Ash […]
Glass Closeout Sale
We are eliminating hand blown glass and all glass is 50% to 70% OFF. We need more room for pottery! Wavy Glass Bowl 10″ Vase with Gold Leaf and Decoration 14″ Handblown Glass Ornaments Glass Vase with Cane Pattern 9″ Glass Vase with Bubbles 8″ Glass Vase with Gold Leaf 14″ Wavy Glass Vase with […]
Raku
Raku Wall Hangings with impressions of plants Raku is a Japanese word for an unusual firing process and the resulting pottery. The pottery is heated in the normal manner until the glaze melts, and then it is immediately removed from the kiln. The red hot pots are cooled rapidly. Sometimes they are cooled in oxidation […]
Students Working
Look Around the Studio Students at making pots.
Techniques Students Can use in Class
These videos show lots of techniques we think you might be able to apply in class.
Night Sky
Back to Shopping Night Sky- by Donna Hetrick What happens in the forest at night? Who is awake? What are the animals doing? Tree Bowl with gold luster and slip decoration. Tree Bowl side view Tree Bowl 3/4 view Savannah Cup Giraffe Jar Giraffe Jar view 2 Turtle Vase Turtle Vase view 2 Baobob Cup
Terra Cotta
TERRA COTTA POTTERY This line of terra cotta wall hangings, sculptures vases and planters was started in 2018. Terra Cotta Vase with Slip Painting 16″ Terra Cotta Planter Decorated with Colored Slips Terra Cotta Planter Decorated with Colored Slips Terra Cotta Hanging Platter Decorated with White Slip and Markings Terra Cotta Planter Decorated with Colored […]
Shino
Shino Glazed Pottery Shino is a glaze that deserves a page all of its own. This category of glaze has Japanese origins but has been reinvented in America. It is a high sodium “carbon trap” glaze. During the early reduction stages of the firing, at about 1500º Fahrenheit, carbon atoms attach to the high amount […]
Ash Glazed Pottery
About Ash Glazes We collect ashes from friends’ fireplaces and, after screening them, spray them directly on some of our pottery before firing. The rivulets are a characteristic of the high surface tension and fluidity of ash glazes. Before kilns were fired with natural gas, wood was used. Ash from the fire flew throughout the […]
Expand Your Knowledge
There is so much to learn! Even if you can never master it all, it is fun to see the masters at work. Learn about the medium of clay and the ceramic processes.
China Part 6 My Crate Arrives
I bought brushes, glazes, tools and about 400 small pots in China. I also had a dozen molds made so I could watch the process and learn how to do it. Then I had a one and one half cubic meter crate custom made, packed it and had it shipped by sea and truck to […]
Donna’s Return
After teaching ceramics in public school for 13 years, Donna has returned to Fireborn full time.
China Part 5 – Food
The food in China was interesting and different, and mostly good.
China Part 4 – Amazing Throwing
This video was taken in in a small studio in Jingdezhen, China. The techniques are quite different than what is common in the USA. The mystique of throwing and the focus on it belies the fact that, although throwing begins the process of making a pot, trimming takes two or three times longer than throwing. All […]
China Part 3
Excellent videos about China and Jingdezhen, where I spent a month.
China part 2
As you can imagine spending six weeks in China was a really big adventure for me. I was an “artist resident” at The Pottery Workshop for a month, with two meals a day provided except on weekends. The Pottery Workshop’s mission is not teaching. It’s mission is to facilitate artist in doing whatever they want […]
China Part 1 My Trip
I spent six weeks in China. I was studying ceramics. one month was spent in the city of Jingdezhen, the city “where porcelain was born”. The last two weeks I toured Xian, Beijing and Shanghai. People ask what China was like. I arrived at Pudong Airport in Shanghai. It was totally modern and organized. Determined to […]
Understanding Glazes, Materials and Processes
Find out what glazes are and how they are made and tested.
Korean Icheon and Onggi Pottery
These master Korean potters are on my bucket list of people and places to visit.
Trimming Help
These are videos I made to help you with trimming.
Throwing Videos for Beginners
This is one man’s take on throwing basics.
Open Studio Saturday Access
Open Studio – Note new Start time: 12:30 p.M. effective May 1, 2023 12:30 – 4:00 P.M. Saturday open-studio access, without instruction, is sometimes available, depending on whether or not the studio is booked for other activities. However, there is never open studio on week eight. We usually don’t offer more than two, and the most likely weeks when […]
