For Flux Sake

4.9 (152)
VISUAL ARTS
UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Matt and Rose Katz of the Ceramics Materials Workshop and Kathy King of the Ceramics Program at Harvard University discuss listener questions about clay and glaze. This show will have you laughing and learning about the chemistry behind ceramics in no time.

12/18/2024

How can I make a speckled clay body?

Speckled clay bodies have come roaring back in popularity and in this episode our intrepid clay experts talk about what you can add to your clay body to create this phenomenon. They also talk about plucking and why potassium fluxes are best for clay bodies. To start the show the gang introduce the mysterious case of the A.I. glaze book. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show. As the end of the year approaches, we are asking you to donate to the Brickyard Network. You can help this show and our network of ceramic podcasts by supporting the Archie Bray Foundation with your tax-deductible donation. Thanks so much and happy holidays! This week’s episode features the following topics: Plucking, ilmenite, clay body, sodium, potassium, glaze books, manganese Today's episode is brought to you by Bailey Pottery Equipment and Archie Bray Residency.

30 min
12/11/2024

Do I have to glaze my pieces?

Today’s episode features a simple question. Do I have to glaze my pieces? The FFS gang talk about unglazed surfaces, and also discuss what triggers vitrification during firing. To start the episode, they also gab about Producer Ben’s new book on low-fire glazes for potters and sculptors. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show. This week’s episode features the following topics: Low fire, vitrification, underglaze, vitreous slip, terracotta, dunting, glaze tension

34 min
12/04/2024

How do you make ceramic bakeware?

Have you ever wanted to bake bread in one of your pots? Today the gang answer a listener's question about the best way to make ceramic bakeware. They also discuss a new trend in environmental design and why using sodium fluxes in clay bodies can cause trouble when reclaiming clay. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show. This week’s episode features the following topics: Bread, Sourdough, bakeware, spodumene, lithium, clay body, reclaim clay Today's episode is brought to you by Bailey Pottery Equipment and Archie Bray Residency.

32 min
11/27/2024

Fluxed Up with Osa Atoe

Get ready for a wild ride in the studio with ceramic artist Osa Atoe! In this episode of our Fluxed Up series, we dive into the precarious world of ceramics filled with personal stories, studio mishaps, and the ever-elusive perfect glaze. Join us as Osa shares her experience with letting go of a favorite glaze combo, and how this encouraged her to explore wild clay terra sigs. Tune in for a dose of humor, technical tips, and a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a ceramic artist. Got questions or need advice? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com This week’s episode features the following topics: Glaze troubleshooting, bisque temperature, Jen’s juicy fruit, terra sig, wild clay Today's episode is brought to you by Bailey Pottery Equipment and Archie Bray Residency.

40 min
11/20/2024

Bentonite versus Epsom Salts?

Do you have the hard pan blues when your glazes settle like a rock to the bottom of the bucket? The gang talk about how bentonite and Epsom Salts might solve hard panning, as well as when and how much you should use. They also talk about how to calcine a substance, and why you shouldn’t calcine egg shells as a calcium source. This week’s episode features the following topics: Bentonite, Epsom Salts, calcine, calcium carbonate versus calcium oxide, glaze suspension, glaze settling For today's episode we ask listeners to donate to the Craft Emergency Relief Fund and their efforts to help artists recover after Hurricane Helene.

38 min
11/13/2024

Why is this glaze so gloopy?

Have you ever mixed a glaze with the correct amount of water, but it still seems gloopy and thick? If you have then you might need to add a dispersant to help solve this issue. The gang talk about using dispersants, and they answer a listener’s question about the robustness of cone six versus cone ten. They also return to Materials Corner to talk about the discontinuation of a popular luster brand. This week’s episode features the following topics: Gillespie Borate, Bentonite, Darvan, sodium silicate, vitrification, tin, cone six, cone ten For today's episode we ask listeners to donate to the Craft Emergency Relief Fund and their efforts to help artists recover after Hurricane Helene.

43 min
11/04/2024

Why do pots get hot in the microwave?

Have you ever noticed how some pots get really hot in the microwave? The gang talk about why this happens, and answer a listener question about coloring reclaimed slop glaze. They also talk about glow in the dark glazes and Rose’s recent video about them on the CMW YouTube channel. Do you have questions or need advice on glazes? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com and you could be featured on an upcoming show. This week’s episode features the following topics: Glaze colorants, glow in the dark, microwave, vitrification, Chrome For today's episode we ask listeners to donate to the Craft Emergency Relief Fund and their efforts to help artists recover after Hurricane Helene.

39 min
10/30/2024

Fluxed Up with Brett Kern-Happy Halloween!

Welcome to a very spooky edition of Fluxed Up with Brett Kern. Today we dive into the precarious world of ceramics filled with funny stories, studio mishaps, and the quest for the ever-elusive perfect glaze. Join us as Brett shares his journey with slip casting inflatable dinosaurs, using commercial glazes, and dealing with dunting after material changes. Tune in for a dose of humor, technical tips, and a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a ceramic artist. Got questions or need advice? Drop us a line at ForFluxSakePodcast@gmail.com This week’s episode features the following topics: Slip casting, Dunting, Commercial glazes, layering glazes, spraying, luster For today's episode we ask listeners to donate to the Craft Emergency Relief Fund and their efforts to help artists recover after Hurricane Helene.

32 min

See All (91)

4.9

out of 5

152 Ratings

OMG SO GOOD

12/15/2024

JanelleVanderKelen

I love this show so much. Recently discovered the podcast and learned sooooo much from Rose, Matt, and Kathy. Really fun to listen to, fascinating topics, and so many myths debunked. Ty!!!!
Unbelievably good

08/21/2024

dnascarlet

I love this podcast. I work at a community kiln and always unload to this podcast!!!
Audio mixing

09/25/2024

StephaniePond

PLEASE fix your audio mixing. It is painful to listen with the extreme variances in your hosts audio levels!!!!
So, so good.

05/23/2024

Boourns82

I am not a potter and I don’t know anything about clay and/or glaze…until now. Love the show! It’s educational, informative, and for all levels.

Matt and Rose Katz of the Ceramics Materials Workshop and Kathy King of the Ceramics Program at Harvard University discuss listener questions about clay and glaze. This show will have you laughing and learning about the chemistry behind ceramics in no time.