Katie Brentnall Ceramics

Katie Brentnall Ceramics Handmade ceramics inspired by New Zealand coastlines and natural forms.

Have you ever stood at the edge of the ocean, and a wave settles just at your feet, a kiss hello before retreating back?...
29/05/2026

Have you ever stood at the edge of the ocean, and a wave settles just at your feet, a kiss hello before retreating back?

These forms were made thinking of sand between toes, watching the waves at Orewa pull in and out. The bare clay at the base has a little grit to it like dry sand, marked by wave memories.

I'm forever inspired by the oceans and shorelines around us -- we are so lucky to be in a part of the world with such diverse beauty, although it is these simple moments I always return to.

24/05/2026

Glaze combinations can feel random until you understand glaze behaviour! In this series I’m breaking down my 5 glaze personalities starting with the Anchor glaze type -- stable glazes that stay where you put them and help control movement in combinations 🥰

Once you know what type of glaze you have, combinations and glaze design is going to come much easier to you so you can get glaze results you're actually after ❤️

23/05/2026

Every day I get DMs asking me how to approach layering glazes. How do I break free of copying other people's combos? How do I make the most of the glazes I already have? How on earth do I start figuring out where to place them on the form?

This is how I think of it, in it's simplest terms. Of
course there is just so much more to glazing than
this, but when I was starting out I really needed a
simple method to understand where to even begin.

Look at the glazes you have and think of their
behaviour. Once you get to know the roles you're
asking them to play, it will be so much easier to
know what to do.

If you want movement like water, an Anchor + an
Anchor isn't going to do it. If you want defined
brushstrokes, a Mover + a Floater isn't the best
choice. If you have texture on your form, you want
to hero a Breaker in your design.

This is just the beginning. I hope this is helpful to
someone ❤️ If you're after more useful information about glazing in plain English, pop me a follow and come along for the ride.

20/05/2026

Feeling stuck with your pottery or glazes? Instead of buying new materials, try changing your clay body.

I’m making black test tiles to see how my glazes react differently. This is part 1 of my glaze testing process to see what the change in colour does-- follow along for the results.

ceramicprocess clay

17/05/2026

When you're starting out with pottery I think it can feel very tempting to go out and buy every glaze you can get your hands on --

but for me it made everything so much more overwhelming, and not to mention extremely expensive 🫣

So this is what I wish I did instead. I make most of my glazes at home now, but even that has a cost barrier to entry. So simplifying the process has made everything clearer, and the learnings and data very easy to understand after each firing.

This is how I approach all of my designs now -- not just by glaze palette, but the characteristics of the glazes too. Once you understand what each does, everything will become much clearer ❤️

17/05/2026

Pottery beginners, you don’t need a wheel to make something you actually love using.

This is one of those pieces I come back to when I just want to sit with the clay and not overthink it.

It’s a simple jewelry holder made with real clay, just hand-building and a few pebbles pressed in to create those soft, organic divots.

It’s easy, it’s low pressure, and it’s such a good way to start getting a feel for the clay in your hands.

Save this for later when nothing is going right in the studio and you need a quick win to get you back on track 🫠

Address

Auckland

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Katie Brentnall Ceramics posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Katie Brentnall Ceramics:

Shortcuts

Share

Category