Four Clay Bodies I Love to Use and Why
When it comes to ceramics, choosing the right clay can make a huge difference in how your piece turns out. I've spent years experimenting with different clay bodies, and I've found a few that I consistently come back to. They each have their own unique qualities, strengths, and little quirks, and I'm happy to share what makes these four so special to me.
B-Mix Clay
B-Mix from Laguna Clay is a beautiful, smooth white clay. Its clean surface is perfect for capturing fine details and crisp lines, and it really makes glazes—especially the metallic ones—pop. I love how vibrant colors look against that bright white; they just seem to shine.
Stardust (Private Collection)
One of the things I appreciate most about B-Mix is how well it works for hand-sculpting. It’s incredibly smooth, with no grog (those gritty particles), which makes it ideal for shaping and achieving refined finishes. I often use it for my Wave series because it helps me create the smooth, flowing surfaces that are a signature of that collection.
Special and Speckle Buff Clay
Special Buff is a smooth brown clay with a touch of grit. This makes it a good choice for both hand-building and throwing. That little bit of grit also helps prevent cracking during drying and firing, which is always a plus, especially for larger or more complex pieces. It fires to a nice tan or brown, giving it a warm, earthy feel. And there’s also a speckled version! Speckle Buff has these little black speckles that add a lovely, natural touch—perfect for creating organic pieces like Uni below.
Uni in Linen Wash (Private Collection)
Taal (Private Collection)
WS-5 Clay
WS-5 is my go-to clay for Raku firing. It's a white clay specifically formulated to handle the rapid temperature changes of Raku, which can often cause other clays to crack from thermal shock. Because of the low temperature firing process, it leaves the pottery porous, not suitable for functional ware, but it’s perfect for decorative vessels and sculptures.
I love how easy WS-5 is to use. It's great for both hand-building and wheel-throwing. And because it's so consistent, I can get the results I'm aiming for every time. Glazing and achieving those metallics though? That's a whole different story altogether! But that's what makes raku so special – the unique and unexpected results.
Organic Yellow Raku Bowl (Private Collection)
Charcoal Clay
Aardvark Clay's Charcoal is a fantastic black clay. It fires to a rich, deep black that adds a touch of drama and edge. I particularly enjoy using it for hand-building, where I love the contrast between the raw, matte clay and the glazed areas. This medium-grit clay fires to cone 5/6 and works well for both throwing and hand-building.
Arid Bloom (Private Collection)
It does have one thing to keep in mind: it has a fairly high shrinkage rate (around 13%), so I have to plan carefully if I’m trying to achieve a certain size.
Like WS-5, it fires consistently and offers a great deal of versatility. It's a reliable choice for many of my ceramic projects.
Giza. Available.
My clay favorites: the possibilities are endless
These are just a few of my go-to clay choices. Each one brings a unique character to the table, and selecting the right one is a key part of my creative process. Whether it's the dramatic black of Charcoal, the smooth creaminess of B-Mix, the earthy feel of Special and Speckle Buff, or the resilience of WS-5, there's a clay perfectly suited for every project.
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