A Supportive Online Glaze Community

Who Can I Ask?

Have you ever had a glaze question and no one to ask it to? I sure have! Working alone in a studio can feel isolating, especially when things aren’t going well.

Having a supportive community is so valuable. The internet makes it really easy to connect with potters all over the world. It’s important to have other people that we can discuss our challenges and successes with. We all have experience with different things and I think it’s great that we can learn from each other.

Sharing Information

This is why I started a Facebook group for potters to chat about glazes – my favourite ceramic subject! I’ve done so much glaze testing over the past few years and collected so much data that I want to share it with the ceramics community. I know others have a lot to share as well.

This group is a place for both beginners and experienced potters to talk about glazes and collectively learn more about them. It’s a place to post your results and ask questions.

From glaze mixing and application to glaze chemistry and formulation, ask away! If I can’t answer it, there’s bound to be someone with experience. Or we can come up with a testing method to figure out the answer.

Join us!

If that sounds like your idea of a good time, click the button below to join my Facebook group

Understanding Glazes with Sue

When joining, be sure to answer the question “What’s your biggest challenge with glazes right now?” and you’ll be approved. It really helps me to plan helpful content to share with you guys.

Introduce yourself to the group and then feel free to come ask your glaze questions as they come up. If we can, we’ll help you figure them out.

See you there!

Hi, I'm Sue McLeod

I've been a studio potter since 2010 and was the ceramics studio technician at a community studio from 2015-2021.

I got my start with a 2-year diploma in clay at Kootenay School of the Arts in Nelson, BC. That's where I learned all the skills required to be a studio technician, including studio set up and kiln maintenance. The program was very focused on teaching us how to be competent, professional studio potters.

After exploring ceramics through a mainly artistic lens for a few years, making and selling my work, I gradually got pulled deeper into the technical side. Learning about the materials we use, how they work together and the chemical reactions that happen in the kiln has been the most inspiring part of my artistic journey. I took 3 online courses through Alfred University about the chemistry of clay and glazes.

As I learn and understand more and have those lightbulb moments where something finally makes sense, I can't help but want to share with my community. It wasn't so long ago when nothing made sense to me and I remember how frustrated I was when things didn't turn out as I hoped. Having knowledge of the chemistry of clay and glazes gives me the freedom to be more creative. It allows me to turn my inspirations into physical creations and you can too!

I believe that all ceramic artists can benefit from exploring the chemistry of their clay and glazes, even at a very basic level. If you're looking for someone to take complex subjects and explain them in a way that's easy to understand, even for the most right-brained creatives, you've come to the right place!

Thanks for joining me on the ceramics journey.