​Ceramics paint and glaze is such a fun activity.  You are able to add color, dimension and expression to so many different pieces.  Since we opened, we have had a steady stream of customers who stopped in and asked if we offered paint and glaze.  In response to those inquiries, we have added a new paint and glaze section.  

Lots of wonderful pieces for children, adults, teens are ready for your artistic touches.  We have stocked the paint and glaze section with lots of seasonal pieces including of course Christmas pieces.  Here are a few of the paint and glaze pieces which have been completed just since we started offering paint and glaze ceramics in the Studio.

Stop in and see what is available.  We add to the offerings on a regular basis.  We use commercially available pieces, and also pieces that we create by hand in the Studio.  

Custom paint and glaze pieces are available as well!  We have provided custom pieces to local a local Daisy Troop, a bridal shower, and a corporate team building event!  

Contact the Studio about creating a custom piece for paint and glaze, we welcome custom requests.

Where to start?  
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Well, as they say..."let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start..."
As I have confided in ALL of you out there in Internet-land, I am NOT computer savvy.  I have had a website now for a number of years through Vista-print and have been overall quite happy with the ease with which I can navigate that system.

Well, I have taken my website to the next level and have redone a LOT of it to embed tracking tags so that when people search for Big Dog Pots Pottery, Marshall, Virginia, they will HOPEFULLY find us somewhere out there beyond the rainbow!



We have added two shopping pages one for Wedding Gifts and one for Custom Dog Bowls. These have over the years been our most popular pieces for personalized gifts and we will see how all this goes.

So in the meantime, if you happen to visitBig Dog Pots Pottery website, message us about any typos or problems, or feel free to contact us to discuss our creating a one of a kind piece just for you, your special event, or your special pet.  OR while you are there check out our new Pottery Classes and fall offerings and register for classes online.  

I will let you know how all of these HOURS, and HOURS of sitting at the computer screen and editing pans out????  We will see ....

Thanks in advance for your patience and support and we continue to navigate THE WEB!!!!

Seriously, it is over 90 degrees outside, we have just unloaded and kiln and there you have it.....CHRISTMAS!  YES, Christmas, already!

I remember when.....each holiday was celebrated respectfully in the large department stores, and no store would put up their Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving was done and put away.  As we all know, times have changed.  

We have a Christmas corner here in the gift gallery that is stocked year round.  But this time of year is when we begin to really begin to plan our annual pieces, and begin creating for early winter.

Many customers do not fully understand the amount of time involved in created a piece of finished stoneware.  There is the creation process itself, either on the wheel or with slabs.  Then the drying of the piece.  Depending upon the size and type of piece, drying can take the better part of one week, or if need be, up to 2 weeks to have it dry very slowly.

After the piece is completely dry it is put through the first kiln run.  This run takes about 8-9 hours and the kiln will fire up to about 1850 degrees.  Once the piece survives the first run, it is glazed (painted) and the run in a high fire run over a period of 12-14 hours where the kiln will reach upwards of 2350 degrees.  

The high fire run takes about 24 hours for the kiln to cool completely, sometimes longer in hot weather, and then the pieces are removed from the kiln and ready to use.

SO, if a custom comes into the Gift Gallery and asks "hmmm, I would love that platter, but can you make it for me in, hmmmm, purple?"  The answer is always yes, BUT the process can take 4-6 weeks.

In advance of the busy Holiday gift giving season, we are beginning early.  These are some of the pieces that are trending for 2014 here at Big Dog Pots Pottery.

Remember, custom orders are always welcome, but remember handmade does take time :).