Everything but cleaning up
June 09, 2026
How do we feel about less themed, more thought-driven entries? This is me ranting about my work day. Obviously, this is a very privileged kind of work situation, as I do ceramics part-time and don’t rely on it financially. As some of you may know, I’ve been going through an exploratory phase and relearning to handle clay in a more playful way. Functional ceramics such as the kind of pieces I’ve been selling for years tend towards more industrialised ways of making. With the work I’m currently developing, I’m hoping to gently subvert that tendency.
Today, my playful ways manifested in layering glazes. I woke up, made myself a latte and went down to my garage, which is where I keep my kiln and all glazing tools. I kept forgetting about my latte, as one does, until it had cooled so much I couldn’t bring myself to finish it. Testing glazes, especially when combined, on test tiles or scraps of clay is something I recommend to fellow ceramicists, but rarely put into practice. Given the vague possibility that a combination might work out and look good on a mug, it’s worth testing it directly on the mug. Do as I say, not as I do. So I tested new matte glazes and glazed half a dozen pieces with Botz 9313. It’s a pre-made glaze that works extremely well fired at all temperatures. After glazing usually comes a moment when I take stock of the missing glazes on my business journal (you may recall it from Morning pages breakdown). I’d be lying if I told you I don’t get lazy about working in the garage. I get lazier on winter days, but I generally enjoy having this physical separation between where I shape clay and where I glaze it. The two processes are separated by the firing stage and put different tools to use… in essence, I’m always playing different roles.
That pretty much sums up what running this business feels like. I’m a researcher, an artist, a cleaner (I hate that part), an accountant, a photographer, a content creator and everything else this project demands. It’s still unclear to me what will happen once I move out of Portugal and leave the making role behind. I might tap into research, which still feels like a hobby more than a job. Hobby to career to hobby again. Life is so unpredictable! I digress. A few quick recommendations for you: read the 500-year-old book Utopia and revisit my playlist Cafuné. I’m putting the same playlist on and pouring myself a second latte. Wherever you are, have a soft day.
