Clay-Building Tricks & Tips for a Happy Firing

To get the best possible result from your session and the kiln firing, here are a few tricks the pros use:

1. Thickness Sweet Spot: Aim for 6-8 mm of even thickness. Too thin cracks; too thick risks a kiln meltdown!

2. Moisture Control: A tiny bit of water smooths, but too much makes clay droopy and hard to work with.

3. Stick to the Plan: Follow the project design and size. No extra pieces, braided handles, or "minis." Think fine-dining size! We are a family-friendly art studio, and only child-friendly and appropriate artwork can be made and fired.

4. Scratch & Slip = Glue: For attachments (like a handle), always scratch, add slip, and press firmly. Skip it, and your handle may run away!

5. Compress the Base: Use the rib to firmly compress the bottom. This is like building a firm mattress for your piece—fewer cracks!

6. Rim Etiquette: Make your rim round and smooth so it's nice to touch and happy in the kiln.

7. Have fun!: Remember, 4Cats is for fun. Come hang out, make stuff, laugh, and put down your phone.

8. Sometimes clay breaks: The kiln gods make the call as to whether a piece cracks or not 🤣 but following these tips puts the odds in your favour!

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

• Projects are only available on the dates and times shown. Each session is prepared for specific projects, and our instructors are set up to guide those projects during that time. 

• We are not an open art studio and do not offer studio time for personal projects. Our workshops are designed to be affordable, just for fun, and beginner-friendly, with projects planned around specific materials, timing, and skill levels to help everyone have the best possible experience and results.

Your prep checklist:

• Wear clothes you don’t mind getting a little clay on
• Bring cozy energy, your creativity, and a friend if you’ve got one
• You don’t need to bring any tools or materials (we got you)
  

📺 For Clay, we highly recommend watching The Great Pottery Throw Down Show — it’s a fantastic show and will give realistic expectations about what clay can do.

You’ll see that even experts hope their pieces don’t crack in the kiln, that the glaze works as planned, and that things turn out the way they imagined. You’ll also see that making art is about fun, supporting one another, and trying. 

That’s what we’re all about, too. 🏺