The Potter's Prayer

Description

A prayer for potters who wish to continue down the road of text book glaze recipes, never really getting what they want, never getting control.

Article

If you are determined to take the traditional route of hunting for that ever-evasive magic glaze recipe rather than learn about materials and chemistry so you can fix and adjust what you have, then you need a prayer to help you through the troubled times ahead.

The Potter's Prayer

My God of the kiln, hallowed be thy name and may good firings come
Keep me in bliss on the broad easy road upon which the dragon leadeth me
Show me not responsibility or accountability and deaden my conscience
Let me rely on the recipes of others and protect me from the consequences of their advice

Lord, though I understand not materials or oxides or the basic mechanisms
Let me strike blindly that therein you may reveal your deep mysteries to me
Though I've walked through the valley of failure and despair
Let me not concern myself with questions about why I stay on this road.

Give me hope that the 'roulette wheel' of recipes will satisfy my needs
That my reputation will weather all manner of quality that I produce
Help me use up my stock of materials from years of testing strange recipes
Though I have entertained the undocumented and temperamental formula
Though I have trafficked in recipes, misleading others and being mislead
Forgive me as I have forgiven those who have misled me.

Amen.

Tony Hansen

Related Information

Links

Articles	G1214M Cone 5-7 20x5 glossy transparent glaze This is a base transparent glaze recipe developed for cone 6. It is known as the 20x5 or 20 by 5 recipe. It is a simple 5 material at 20% each mix and it makes a good home base from which to rationalize adjustments.
Articles	G1916M Cone 06-04 transparent glaze This is a frit based boron glaze that is easily adjustable in thermal expansion, a good base for color and a starting point to go on to more specialized glazes.
Articles	Fighting the Glaze Dragon At Digitalfire we promote the idea of understanding and formulating your own glazes so you have control rather than relying on suppliers or the trade in glaze recipes.

By Tony Hansen
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