Glazing: Test, Adjust, Discover Mid-Fire Glazes with John Britt

$425 Per Person + $50 Lab Fee— Ages 18 and up

Ages 16–18 may participate with prior approval. Please contact info@taoofclay.com for more information.

Saturday, February 21st, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Sunday, February 22nd, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to  5:00 p.m.

Monday, February 23rd, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

Tao of Clay, 1012 Sicard Street, San Diego, CA, 92113

Level: Beginner-Intermediate

Prerequisite: Prior experience is not necessary. Open to all skill levels.

Discover the art and science of glazes with renowned ceramicist John Britt in this hands-on weekend workshop. Together, we will take a deep dive into the world of ceramic glazes, with a focus on, but not limited to, cone 6.

John will cover cones, kilns, firing dynamics, and principles, showing how these apply to a range of firing cycles. From there, he will introduce foundational glaze categories such as ash, celadon, and temmoku, exploring how and why each works, how to achieve them, and how to adapt or even invent new recipes.

Participants will also have the opportunity to engage directly with concepts from John’s book The Complete Guide to Mid-Range Glazes: Glazing and Firing at Cone 4–7, while going beyond the page into deeper discussion and hands-on exploration.

Whether you are eager to develop your own mid-fire glazes or simply want to better understand what glaze is and why it works, this workshop promises to leave you inspired, informed, and ready to experiment.

Tools

Please review the Student Supply List for all required tools. Tao of Clay will not be providing tools for this workshop; participants are expected to bring their own.

Clay Bodies & Test Tiles

• ToC house clay body – a warm brownish-red body for functional wares
• Sculpture body with grog
• Laguna Frost Porcelain
  
  

Note: You will not be able to test glazes on your own clay body.

Dress Comfortably

Please wear clothes you don’t mind getting messy.

Firing

Firing is limited to the work produced during the designated workshop sessions. We are unable to accommodate outside firing.

Studio Access

This workshop includes access to the studio only during scheduled workshop hours.

Student Supply List

Participants are required to bring the following tools to the workshop:

• One 2-gallon bucket
• One scale
• One immersion blender
• A notebook and pen
  
  

These tools are essential for the workshop and will not be provided by Tao of Clay. All other materials and tools will be supplied by the studio.

Traveling from out of town?

If you are unable to bring these items but still wish to register, please email us in advance at info@taoofclay.com. We can coordinate the purchase of the required supplies directly through Tao of Clay before the workshop.

About John Britt

John Britt is a studio potter in Bakersville, North Carolina who has been a potter and teacher for over 40 years. He lives in the mountains of western North Carolina although he grew up in Dayton, Ohio. John is primarily a self-taught potter who has worked and taught over 250 workshops, both nationally and internationally, at universities, colleges and craft centers, including the Penland School of Crafts where he served as the Clay Coordinator and then, as the Studio’s Manager. 

He is the author of the “The Complete Guide to High-Fire Glaze; Glazing & Firing at Cone 10” which was published by Lark Books in 2004, and his most recent book “The Complete Guide to Midrange Glazes: Glazing and Firing at Cone 6” which was published October 2014. He also has and 13 E-books (PDF’s): “The Quest for the Illusive Leaf Bowl and Other Assorted Articles” and “Aventurine Glazes”, “Experiments in Gohonde Spotting”, and most recently, “Secrets of Oil Spot Glazes” which covers 25 years of firing Oil Spot Glazes. He also has a DVD produced by Ceramics Daily entitled: "Understanding Glazes: How to Test, Tweak and Perfect Your Glazes”. He produced four other videos: “Fundamentals of Wheel Throwing”, “Beyond the Basics” and “Kurinuki” and the most recent “Fundamentals of Glazing Techniques”.

He was the juror for the book; "500 Bowls”, Technical Editor for “The Art and Craft of Ceramics”, and the “Ceramic Glaze: The Complete Handbook” by Brian Taylor and Kate Doody and Amazing Glaze by Gabriel Kline. He has written numerous articles for ceramics publications including: Ceramic Review, Studio Potter, Clay Times, Ceramic Technical, New Ceramics, The Log Book and is a frequent contributor to Ceramics Monthly. 

John can be reached at:  johnbrittpottery@gmail.com

Cancellation Policy:

All sales are final and non-refundable. No refunds will be given for cancellations made at any time. Please consider this policy before purchasing a ticket.

Missed Class Policy:

We do not offer refunds, prorated refunds, or make-up sessions for missed workshop days or times.

Please contact info@taoofclay.com with any questions.