3-Day Cone 6 Glaze Workshop

Workshop Overview

Dates: 3/20/26 - 3/22/26

$425 + $35 Lab Fee

This intensive three-day workshop offers a comprehensive introduction to ceramic glazes, with a primary focus on cone 6 oxidation firing. Led by internationally respected ceramic artist and educator John Britt, the workshop is designed to help potters understand how glazes work, not just how to follow recipes.

Participants will explore the fundamental principles that govern glaze behavior — including firing dynamics, flux balance, silica and alumina relationships, and kiln variables — and learn how to apply those principles to build, modify, and troubleshoot glazes with confidence. ...

While the workshop draws from John Britt’s book The Complete Guide to Mid-Range Glazes, it goes significantly beyond the book through expanded demonstrations, hands-on testing, and in-depth discussion tailored to real studio practice.

What We’ll Cover

Topics include, but are not limited to:

• Understanding cones, kilns, and firing dynamics

• How firing cycles influence glaze development

• The role of silica, alumina, and fluxes in cone 6 glazes

• Major glaze families: gloss, satin, matte, celadon, ash analogs, temmoku, and specialty surfaces

• Why glazes melt, run, crawl, craze, or pinhole

• How to adjust glazes intentionally rather than by trial and error

• How to read, evaluate, and modify glaze recipes

• Strategies for building a reliable, studio-friendly glaze palette

• Using Glazy.org for glaze formulation and evaluation

The emphasis throughout the workshop is on practical understanding — giving you tools you can continue to use long after the workshop ends.

Hands-On Glaze Testing

The majority of workshop time is devoted to hands-on mixing and testing.

Each participant will:

• Be assigned a different base glaze

• Mix and apply 10 color variations

• Apply glazes to test tiles (provided)

• Contribute to a shared glaze testing library

All participants receive access to every recipe and variation tested during the workshop, creating a broad reference set far beyond what any single student could test alone.

Who This Workshop Is For

This workshop is ideal for:

• Potters working at cone 6 in electric or oxidation kilns

• Beginners seeking a strong foundation in glaze understanding

• Intermediate potters ready to move beyond trial-and-error testing

• Instructors, studio assistants, and serious hobbyists

• Wheel throwers and handbuilders alike

No prior glaze chemistry experience is required. A willingness to work carefully, measure accurately, and engage with the material is all that’s needed.

What You’ll Leave With

Participants will leave with:

• A clear understanding of how cone 6 glazes function

• Practical strategies for adjusting and troubleshooting glazes

• A tested collection of base glazes and color variations

• Increased confidence reading and modifying glaze recipes

• A framework for developing glazes in your own studio environment

  
  

This workshop is designed to replace years of guesswork with a repeatable, informed approach to glaze development.

Materials & Supplies

The studio will provide test tiles and base glaze materials. 

Participants are required to bring:

• OSHA-approved P100 respirator or dust mask, stored in a labeled gallon-size zip-lock bag

• Journal and pen, Sharpie markers

• Immersion (hand) blender that fits inside a Solo cup

• Small scoop for measuring materials

• Scale accurate to 0.1 grams

  • One scale per two participants

  • Accuracy is essential; many inexpensive scales do not measure below 1–2 grams

Participants should wear clothing appropriate for studio work.

Firing & Results

Test tiles will be fired during the workshop and will be discussed on Sunday. Participants will retain access to all tested recipes and reference materials.

About the Instructor

John Britt is an internationally respected ceramic artist, educator, and glaze researcher known for his clear, systematic approach to glaze chemistry. He is the author of The Complete Guide to Mid-Range Glazes and The Complete Guide to High-Fire Glazes, both widely regarded as essential references for studio potters. With decades of teaching experience, John Britt is especially valued for his ability to translate complex glaze chemistry into practical, reliable systems that empower potters to confidently develop and adjust their own glazes.

Registration & Cancellation Policy

Full payment is required at registration. Refund requests made at least 30 days before the workshop incur a $25 processing fee. No refunds or cancellations will be accepted within 21 days of the workshop start date.