The clay we use is the first and most fundamental aesthetic and practical consideration of being a potter! It’s great to be able to mix your own clay recipes from scratch, that way you can dial in exactly what you want out of the materials. But the reality is that mixing your own clay from scratch can be complex and also require more space/infrastructure than you might have available. So another way you can create a clay body that feels good to you is by blending commercially available clays together. This video shows how I make some simple blends of commercial clay bodies to be tested out in various atmospheric firings.
Start by making your workspace and setting yourself up with 1. The clays you want to blend, 2. A digital scale, 3. Your notebook, 4. A needle tool, 5. And a wareboard.
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Decide which blend ratios you want to make and note them down. If using two different clays, try blending 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 1:2, 1:3, etc in batches that total 150g. (1:1 = 75g + 75g. 1:2 = 50g + 100g. 1:3 = 37.5g + 112.5g) weigh out your ratios using your digital scale.
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Blend the clays! You can tear, twist, and slap the clays together repeatedly until well blended. You can also roll out a coil, fold it over itself, and roll it out again on repeat until well blended.
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Next, divide your well-blended sample into 3 equal 50g parts and flatten them out into small slabs.
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Using your needle tool, etch your blend notation into the slab. This can be the actual ratio, or just a code that corresponds to the notes in your notebook. If you’re interested in learning the shrink rate, you would also measure and etch a 10cm line into the slab
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Now all that’s left to do is fire them! This is not the most precise way of mixing materials, but I don’t think it needs to be. This helps get the broad strokes and if you want to get more specific you can dial in further later. Like I said at the start, our clay is our very first decision and is of utmost importance. I hope this helps you get closer to the flavor of clay you might be chasing, especially if you’re getting tired of using the same clays as everyone else! Cheers!
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#pottery #clay #tutorial #customclay #harrylevenstei
@redlodgeclaycenter2 appreciation post for their 20th anniversary of operations! I was a short-term artist in residence from October 2019, thru July 2020. Yes, the early covid era! Global pandemic aside, it was some of the greatest times of my life. I was able to deepen into figuring out soda firing, and experimenting with mapping my woodfiring techniques onto the soda process. I did tons of clay body testing, and still use some of the clays from that research today. I had the best ski season of my life up at @redlodgemountain when we received 8 feet of snow over the month of February🤪 The whole time I was there I felt taken care of, and supported by the RLCC admin and staff, and the local community. It was really difficult to leave, it really felt like home. The RLCC facilities are tip top notch, and are cared for beautifully by the staff and residents. It’s the best residency out there, folks. And they aren’t even drinking age yet! Hehe happy birthday @redlodgeclaycenter2 , and congratulations @hilt_dawg and @maggyhiltner for your ongoing accomplishment🙏
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#redlodge #redlodgeclaycenter #ceramics #hlpottery #harrylevensteinpottery
Studio build view today. Slow and steady progress with adding the two layers of strapping over the insulation. It took about 4 days just to get the roof and this gable end all set. What took the longest was trying to set the roof strapping to line up with the existing screw holes in the metal roof panels. So tedious! Crossing my fingers that it will all match when I get to putting the panels up🤞🤞
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I’m finally feeling close to all better after a gnarly cold knocked me out over two weeks ago! Getting sick is such a bummer when it feels like there’s so much to do! I think I may have prolonged it by trying to work through it before I was completely better.. A lesson I might have to learn many more times before it really sinks in😬
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Also! This Saturday will be my first market of the season! Looking forward to spending the day up at @greylockworks for the Heirloom design show. It’s such a great space, and the vendors are top notch. There’s also incredible food @statefoodndrink and some of the best cocktails I’ve ever had @distilleryatgreylockworks . Come on and make a day of it. See ya there:)
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#pottery #studiobuild #greylockworks #hlpottery #harrylevensteinpottery
40+ local, handcrafted, artisan small businesses are traveling to Greylock WORKS this Saturday to share what they’ve been working on this season! Come say hi, find a gorgeous and/or delicious gift for a mom in your life (AND yourself), and support local talent 🌟
Join us for HEIRLOOM by Design 2026!
THIS SATURDAY May 2, 10am-4pm FREE ENTRY 💫
Featured here:
🌟 Heidi Taschen – CT based designer creating pure felted wool vessels from start to finish.
🌟 The Peach Tree – natural stone jewelry that allows you to carry a piece of the earth with you, every day.
🌟 Woodlife Ranch – Northern Berkshires farm offering farm honey and maple syrup products directly from their ranch, practicing sustainable forestry and agriculture.
🌟 Brosgé Clothing - helping you find clothing that fits, feels good, suits your style, AND is eco friendly.
🌟 Gumball Glassworks - a modern twist to the traditional stained glass art form.
🌟 Nostalgia Scratch Pastry - gWorks’ resident pastry wizard duo
🌟 c.e. golden - evocative sculptural, wearable metalwork.
🌟 Reinemann Studios - visual artist and resident of the studios at gWorks.
🌟 Art Official Florals – a contemporary silk floral designer passionate about the use of flowers as an art medium.
🌟 Harry Levenstein Pottery - paying homage to the rich, cultural heritage of the craft
🌟 Taproot Threads - hand drawn nature and humorous designs screened on ethically sourced apparel
Peruse our previous posts for a preview of more of the creatives joining us this weekend. Guaranteed to feel warm and springy inside under the skylights, and the trains and dinosaurs will be set up for the kids 🌟
Also, experience the whole package and stop by the west side of campus to see the residential LOFTS! 520 State Road
OPEN HOUSE 11 - 3pm on Saturday 02.May 💫
or contact @selinalamb_birch_properties to schedule a private tour
Late post about the start of spring house projects. We decided to tackle our collapsing and very sketchy bulkhead entryway to our basement. The masonry was buckling in from hydrostatic pressure, the bilco door was broken and rickety, and there were no stairs, just a ladder to get down. As soon as the ground began to thaw it was time to get going. I worked alongside Dan and his crew @lorinmcmanus_earth_artist to excavate, re-level, and re-build the cinder block walls. Then I got to build the stairs and install the new bilco door. So happy to get this checked off! Also, I just sent out a more in-depth update to my email list. If you’re not already signed up for that, I encourage you to do so. I do enjoy the slower and more thorough platform of the email. I hope you’ll join me!
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#homeimprovement #diy #spring #potter #harrylevensteinpottery
Been making pots down at @theokidokistudio and the latest are these spouted bowls. I’ve been loving using some clay with chunkier inclusions than I typically do. The way they get pulled around and through the surface of the pot during both the throwing and trimming process really gives another layer to the sense of this material. @asartoriusceramics you must be rubbing off on me! I’ve been thinking of these drag marks and exposed materials as decoration. I love leaving my trimming marks very exposed, contrasting that hard, tooled line with the softer untouched thrown surfaces. Another form of decoration. And of course a few of the got treated to some slip-trailed designs as well. Snowdrops!
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#pottery #ceramics #utilitarianpottery #maker #harrylevensteinpottery
A little Saturday galactic jug action. Thanks for hosting this one, @vesselbyscac . Happy weekend my friends!
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#woodfiredpottery #porcelain #jug #pitcher #harrylevensteinpottery
It has been a true winter out here in the Northeast with plenty of snow and lots and lots of cold. As much as I love it, I am really excited to be able to work outside comfortably again and be taking steps toward getting my home studio up and running. A few weeks ago I got the tyvek up between snowstorms. Smart move? Debatable. Last week the boys came over and we made a big push to get two layers of rigid foam insulation wrapped around the entire space. The foam was delivered back in January just before deep winter set in, and it had been stacked and tarped, playfully taunting me daily outside my back window, awaiting the day the snow piles finally melted. I’m so grateful and lucky to have these beautiful and capable people helping me bring this dream to life. Thanks you guys! I love you all💚💪🙏
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#community #potterystudio #building #rollthetape #harrylevensteinpottery
The snow drops are coming up and they inspired some slip trail play❄️💧
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#pottery #sliptrailing #snowdrop #cripplecreek #harrylevensteinpottery
A lovely slender jug. Twice fired so it has a little extra juice to it. Also the slightest hint of blue in the ash from a thin coat of slip containing a fraction of a percent of cobalt oxide. I love when that blue tint can be seen in the heavier ash accumulations, but doesn’t change the color of the exposed clay flashing. This one was sold recently at the @redlodgeclaycenter2 gallery. However they still have its brother available for you to take home. Link growing in the 🌲
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#pottery #redlodgeclaycenter #jug #woodfired #harrylevensteinpottery
I had a wonderful time yesterday @sunynewpaltz demonstrating for the @newpaltzceramics community. We spent the day talking about my favorite thing…pots! I was so impressed by the excitement and dedication of the students in that studio. Thank you all for coming with great questions and curiosity. And thank you so much to @zibes@introductionforestry and @sydneyleeceramics for inviting me out and taking good care of me. I managed to take no photos, so thanks for saving me with these ones, Bryan! Looking forward to more of this🙏
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#sunynewpaltz #newpaltzceramics #visitingartist #hlpottery #harrylevensteinpottery
This Friday! Excited to welcome Harrison Levenstein @harrison_lev ! Join us for workshop demonstrations 10-12 and 1:30-3:30. Lecture at 3:30. Free and open to the public in FAB 201, supported by the New Paltz Ceramic Co!
#newpaltzceramics #npart #nparts #npsocial #woodfire @sunynpart@npmfa@np_fpa@sunynewpaltz
