A (messy but not dusty) collection of mistakes, questions and half-answers - the kind that aren’t obvious when you’re just starting out, even after hours (and days) of videos and books and classes. Most of what you’ll find here comes from my own journey in handbuilt ceramics (slab building mainly): gathering information, testing, failing, retrying, failing again (but better). I’ve been (hand)writing these notes since the very first pinch pot, and I share them here in case they help someone else find their way, too. For now, it’s all handbuilding - I haven’t the space for a wheel in my small flat (yet).
While commonly confused with pottery, ceramics spans a much broader field. From architectural tiles to heat-resistant tools and porcelain sculptures, this guide breaks down the key branches of ceramics, with clear definitions and real-world examples. Discover the full spectrum of this ancient yet ever-evolving craft.
Ceramics is about material, pottery about function. This article breaks it down with concrete examples so you’ll never mix up a flower vase with a sculpture again.
Before my hands ever touched clay, my head was full of questions — the messy, late-night kind no one puts in textbooks. From “Is pottery the same as ceramics?” to “Why does centring look like a spiritual crisis?”, this post gathers the candid, chaotic thoughts that kickstarted my ceramics journey and the answers I wish I’d had.