Exploring Glaze Chemistry with Eric Beale
An eight-week course in glaze chemistry and development

Thursdays, January 14th - March 4th | 6 - 8:30pm
$495 per person | Minimum 6 participants - maximum 12

Get to know your glazes from the inside out!

There is so much that happens between mixing a glaze and opening the kiln. This course is an invitation to spend some time understanding that process, asking questions, and seeing what’s possible.

Eric has been making pottery for more than 30 years. Over the past several, Eric has devoted much of that curiosity to glaze chemistry. He has studied John Britt’s work and Tony Hansen’s Digitalfire resources in depth, bringing what he learns back into the studio to mix, test, fire, and try again. His ongoing work includes developing his own cone 6 no-drip crystalline glazes and exploring how firing and post-firing reduction affect their surfaces.

Eric puts a lot of time and thought into his work. He is a natural teacher, with experience guiding students from their first time at the wheel through more advanced work, as well as teaching raku and glaze formulation.

Over eight weeks, you’ll work with raw materials, learn to read glaze recipes, mix small test batches, and use line tests to explore what happens when ingredients change. You’ll look at fired results together and talk through what they tell you, including the ones that are a surprise. Each week will build on the last as you explore how glaze ingredients, clay bodies, application, and firing work together.

Glaze chemistry can feel like a lot to take in. Eric will make room for questions, demonstrations, individual guidance, and time to connect the chemistry with what you can see on a test tile. You’ll build a collection of fired samples, recipes, and notes to bring back to your own practice, along with more confidence in deciding what to try next.

If you’ve been curious about mixing your own glazes, or want to better understand the ones you already use, Eric would love to have you join him in the studio.

The Weekly Plan

Week 1 • January 14 - Foundations of Glaze Chemistry
Explore the basic components of a glaze, how to read a recipe, and the relationship between materials and fired surfaces. Introduce the Unity Molecular Formula (UMF), the Stull chart, and planning and recording useful glaze tests.

Week 2 • January 21 - Iron-Saturate Glazes
Explore iron’s role in glaze color and surface. Mix test batches and use controlled variations to investigate iron-saturated glazes.

Week 3 • January 28 - Iron Results + Chrome–Tin Glazes
Review our fired iron tests and discuss what the results reveal. Introduce chrome–tin glazes and explore how recipe chemistry influences their color response.

Week 4 • February 4 - Chrome–Tin Results + Alkaline-Earth Mattes
Examine the chrome–tin tests, then explore alkaline-earth matte glazes and the chemistry behind their surfaces.

Week 5 • February 11 - Matte Surfaces, Crawl + Lichen Glazes
Review our matte tests and explore crawl and lichen surfaces, considering how recipe and application influence texture and surface development.

Week 6 • February 18 - Behrens Satin Matte, Titanium & Celadons
Study these glaze families through mixing, testing, and discussion, exploring their differences in color, surface, and response to materials.

Week 7 • February 25 - Crystalline Glazes
Explore the chemistry and firing considerations behind crystalline surfaces, including Eric’s work developing cone 6 no-drip crystalline glazes.

Week 8 • March 4 - Glazing Your Own Work + Final Review
Bring together what we’ve learned, review fired results, and apply selected course glazes to approved personal bisqueware. Discuss how to continue testing and developing glazes independently.

*The weekly plan may be adjusted to allow for firing results and further investigation.

Tuition includes:

• Raw materials for scheduled course experiments

• Test tiles provided by Eric

• Course test firings - students will build a collection of fired samples, recipes, and experiment records to reference in their own practice.

• A binder to record notes and findings

*You may bring your own test tiles if you have a specific mid-range clay you work with.

What to Bring:

For safety and course participation, please bring the following…

• An OSHA-approved respirator or N-95 dust mask

• A labeled quart-size zip bag for storing your respirator

• An immersion hand blender

• A triple beam or digital scale capable of weighing to 0.1 grams

  • Please test your scale against another accurate scale prior to the workshop, as many inexpensive models are not properly calibrated.

Students are encouraged to bring their own bisqueware for the final glazing session. Eric will discuss clay bodies, size, and quantity before pieces are glazed or fired.

Firing range for course tests and personal work: mid-range cone 5/6

Final Firing & Pickup

Work glazed during the final class will be available after firing. Students will be notified when pieces are ready and given pickup instructions.

Registration & Policies

A minimum of 6 participants is required for the course to run, with enrollment limited to 12. If Beale Pottery cancels the course because minimum enrollment is not met, registered participants will receive a full refund.

No credits or refunds after January 1st, 2027.

The Kiln & Quill Society

A literary pottery club at Beale Pottery

Bringing together fantasy, storytelling, and hands-on ceramics in Northwest Indiana.

The Kiln & Quill Society is a seasonal membership experience filled with books, pottery, and meaningful conversation.

The Society is a space for those drawn to all things ancient, romantic, mystical, and unusual. It’s a place where stories become something we can hold in our hands, where imagination meets clay, and where we can share our love for fictional worlds while creating something entirely our own.

Our First Season | January–April 2027
Three monthly book gatherings, followed by The Epilogue, our seasonal glazing gathering.

Pottery + Book Dates: January 16th · February 20th · March 20th
The Epilogue: April 17th
Time: 6–8:30 p.m. Central
Location: Beale Pottery ·
Seasonal membership: $245 per person
Ages: 18+

Step Into the Story

Each gathering invites you to slow down, step away from the everyday, and immerse yourself in a thoughtfully curated literary experience. Each month brings a new book, theme, atmosphere, and a little bit of magic. Sydney will bring each story to life through carefully chosen details that transform the studio into a cozy, welcoming space.

We’ll gather to discuss the book, share our thoughts and favorite moments, unpack the characters and themes, and connect with others who share our love for getting lost in a good story. Along the way, we’ll create a one-of-a-kind piece of pottery inspired by the world we’ve explored.

Members will personalize studio-prepared leather-hard pottery—clay that has dried enough to hold its shape but is still damp enough to carve, texture, and add decorative details. Using carving, sculptural additions, stamps, and surface decoration, you’ll transform each prepared form into something entirely your own.

This approach leaves plenty of room for creativity and experimentation while allowing conversation, connection, and the joy of making to remain at the heart of each gathering.

To complement each month’s theme, light refreshments, including tea and small finger foods, will be provided. Please let us know about dietary restrictions or allergies when registering.

Above all, we want the Kiln & Quill Society to feel welcoming. You don’t need to be a seasoned reader, an experienced potter, or an expert in fantasy to belong here. You just need a little curiosity, a willingness to create, and a love for discovering something new. Whether you’re here for the books, the pottery, the atmosphere, or the chance to find your people, there’s a place for you here.

The First Season’s Reading List & Projects

January | The Court of Venus

By Bel Banta
Pottery project: Celestial Luminary

Tudor-inspired · Courtly intrigue · Rivals to lovers · Magicians · Astrology · Slow burn

January marks the heart of winter, when the nights are long, the skies are dark, and the warmth of the firelight feels magical. Inspired by the celestial mysteries and romantic intrigue of The Court of Venus, this month’s gathering invites us to find enchantment in the quiet of winter.

Sydney will have slab-built cylinders prepared for each member, ready to be transformed with your own celestial embellishments, from moons and stars to intricate cosmic patterns. Whether you’re drawn to the mystery of the night sky or the romantic, otherworldly atmosphere of our January read, you’ll have the opportunity to create a luminary designed to cast a warm, atmospheric glow.

February | The Knight and the Moth

By Rachel Gillig
Pottery project: Medieval Fortress Bookends

Forced proximity · Enemies to lovers · Morally grey characters · Epic quest · Found family

There’s something timeless about stepping into a world of castles, knights, and ancient fortresses. Inspired by the gothic tone of The Knight and the Moth, this month’s gathering draws on medieval architecture, where towering stone walls and hidden passageways feel as though they hold centuries of secrets.

Sydney will have the foundational structures of each set of bookends prebuilt and ready for members to bring to life. You’ll add the finishing architectural details, from textured stonework and sweeping arches to windows and doors, transforming simple clay structures into miniature medieval fortresses.

Whether inspired by the grandeur of ancient castles or the shadowy strongholds of gothic fantasy, you’ll create a piece that brings charm to your bookshelf.

March | One Dark Window

By Rachel Gillig
Pottery project: Matchbox Striker

Unique card magic system · Forbidden love and magic · Slow burn · Found family · Monster within

March marks the transition from winter’s lingering darkness toward the first hints of spring, a season caught between shadow and renewal. Inspired by the eerie atmosphere and unique card-based magic system of One Dark Window, this month’s gathering invites us to explore imagery drawn from tarot, oracle cards, and the magic of the unknown.

Sydney will have slab-built matchboxes prepared for members to transform with their own imaginative surface designs. Drawing inspiration from tarot imagery, oracle decks, and antique mystical illustrations, you’ll create a personalized matchbox striker that feels like a treasured artifact from a mystical world.

Think symbolic imagery, mysterious motifs, and a touch of magic brought to life in clay.

April | The Epilogue

Our seasonal glazing gathering

Each season concludes with The Epilogue, a special glazing gathering where we’ll add the finishing touches to the pottery created throughout the season.

It’s an opportunity to revisit the stories we’ve explored, celebrate the friendships we’ve formed, and reflect on the little pieces of magic we’ve brought to life together.

Your projects will stay at Beale Pottery throughout the season for drying and bisque firing. After The Epilogue, we’ll complete their final glaze firing. Your finished collection will be ready for pickup one week later.

Your Membership Includes

• Three literary gatherings with guided book discussions

• Three studio-prepared pottery projects to personalize

• All clay, glazes, tools, and bisque and glaze firings

• The Epilogue seasonal glazing gathering

• Tea and seasonal refreshments at each gathering

• Thoughtfully prepared discussion prompts

• Priority registration for future seasons

Membership covers the full four-month season. Individual gatherings are not available for separate registration.

An Evening With the Society

6–6:20 p.m. | Arrive & Settle In
Enjoy tea, seasonal refreshments, and time to get acquainted.

6:20–8:30 p.m. | Books & Clay
We’ll share a guided discussion of the month’s book and personalize our pottery projects, with thoughtfully prepared prompts and plenty of room for natural conversation. Sydney will provide guidance as you explore the tools and decorative techniques.

Before You Join

Read before we gather.
Members are responsible for obtaining and reading each month’s book before attending. Books are not included in the membership price. Print books, ebooks, and audiobooks are all welcome. Discussions will include the full story, including the ending.

For adults ages 18 and older.
Some selections may contain mature or explicit content and sensitive subject matter. Please review each book’s content warnings before reading.

Check all four dates before registering.
Due to the nature of the club, no makeup classes are offered. Cancellations are nonrefundable.

Pottery pickup.
Projects remain at the studio until the seasonal glazing gathering and final firing. Finished pottery will be ready for pickup one week after The Epilogue.

Behind the Kiln & Quill Society

A note from Sydney

After nearly a decade of not reading novels, I stumbled upon a popular book series and decided to see what all the hype was about. Not to be dramatic (maybe just a little), that series changed my life in more ways than one. It opened the door to new worlds, magical discoveries, and a part of myself I didn’t even realize I was missing.

I’m still at the beginning of my reading journey, but fantasy novels have quickly become a special kind of escapism for me. There’s something about getting lost in an entirely different world, falling in love with its characters, and discovering the magic woven into its pages that makes me feel alive. These stories remind me of the beauty that still exists in the world, inspire my creativity, and give me hope for humanity in ways I never expected a book could.

But as I started reading more, I realized there was one thing I wanted almost as much as finishing a good book: someone to talk about it with. I wanted to unpack the characters, discuss the magic, and sit with all the feelings a story leaves behind. The only problem? Many of my friends hadn’t read the book!

And so, an idea began to take shape. What if, instead of doom scrolling on BookTok, I could create a real, in-person community? What if I could bring together two of the things that have brought so much meaning to my life - reading and pottery?

Beale Pottery studio has introduced me to such a special community, and I’ve always felt there’s something inviting about creating alongside other people. I wanted to bring that same sense of connection into the worlds I was discovering through books. What started as a small idea slowly grew into something I couldn’t stop thinking about, and eventually, the seeds of the Kiln & Quill Society were planted.

And now, I’m so excited to share it with you.

If you’ve ever wished you could step into the pages of a book, spend hours discussing the worlds and characters that have captured your heart, or bring a little piece of that magic into the real world, I created this society for you.

Welcome to the Kiln & Quill Society. I’m so glad you’re here. ♡

~ Sydney

Color, Form & Flourish
An 8-Week Creative Exploration in Hand-building & Surface Design

Come spend eight weeks playing with clay and color with me!

I’ve always loved the endless possibilities of working with clay. From building a beautiful form to adding layers of color, pattern, and all those little details that bring a piece to life, the versatility in this creative process is what keeps me coming back to the studio.

In this special eight-week class, I’m opening up my own creative process and sharing some of my favorite ways to work with clay. We’ll explore hand-building, color, surface decoration, and the thoughtful details that make handmade pottery so special. We’ll focus on quality items and skill refinement.

We’ll begin by making our own ceramic paint palettes and exploring color theory with underglazes by creating a color wheel to keep for reference. From there, we’ll build a small collection of functional pottery, including a domed serving plate with an optional pedestal foot, a set of beautiful hand-built mugs, and pieces inspired by your own ideas.

As we work, I’ll share the techniques I use in my own pottery, from refining forms and adding sculptural details to making decorating slips, slip trailing, and hand painting with underglazes.

We’ll spend two full classes exploring hand painting, beginning with how to plan a composition, map out a surface, and build a foundation of color. Then we’ll return to our pieces to add layers, patterns, fine lines, and those finishing details that give each piece its personality.

We’ll find inspiration in nature, textiles, folk art, and the colors and patterns that surround us in everyday life. I’ll share how I gather inspiration, develop ideas, choose colors, and make decisions as a piece evolves. I’ll encourage you to explore those same possibilities in your own way.

One of the things I hope to share most is the value of slowing down and making thoughtfully. We’ll focus on quality over quantity, taking the time to refine our forms, consider how each piece feels and functions, and develop surfaces that complement what we’ve made.

With just six students, we’ll have plenty of time to work together, ask questions, experiment, and give each piece the attention it deserves. There will even be a class dedicated to exploring your own ideas, with individual guidance along the way.

This isn’t about making perfect pottery. It’s about learning new skills, discovering what inspires you, and finding your own creative voice. I really love what I do, and I hope to pass on my excitement for creating with clay through this class.

Whether you’re brand new to clay or have some experience and want to explore a more creative approach, I’d love to have you join me!

~ Milissa

Class Details

8 Weeks | 3 Hours Each Wednesday Evening
Date: January 13th - March 3rd
Time: 5:30–8:30 PM

Ages: 18+ | Tuition: $425

Class Size: Limited to 6 students

*No previous pottery or drawing experience necessary, although some experience may lend well to your final outcome.

All clay, decorating slips, underglazes, glazes, studio tools, and standard firings are included.

A Pick-Up Potluck & Little Art Show!
Sunday, March 7 | 1 PM

We’ll wrap up our eight weeks together with a little celebration! I’ll have the studio set up like an art show, displaying everyone’s finished pottery so we can admire the work, see how each person’s ideas came to life, and celebrate all the creativity we’ve shared.

Bring a small bite to share, and we’ll enjoy an afternoon of good food, conversation, and beautiful handmade pottery. I think one of the most special parts of a class like this is seeing how differently we all approach the same materials and techniques, and I can’t wait to see everyone’s finished pieces together!

After our little exhibition, you’ll get to take your work home and put it to good use.

A lovely way to finish our time together!

This is a progressive eight-week class, with each session building on the last. Regular attendance is encouraged. That being said, one make-up class will be allowed.

Intermediate Wheel + Surface Design
8-week daytime class with Milissa Beale at Beale Pottery
Wednesdays beginning January 13, 2027 | 11-2pm | Ages 18+

An 8-Week Creative Clay Exploration

Milissa has created this course for those that have taken some beginner classes, and are looking for what’s next. In this playful, intermediate pottery course, you’ll further explore the potter’s wheel and all the creative possibilities that come afterward.

The course will begin by reviewing and building on the fundamentals of wheel throwing, creating simple bowls, cups, and various forms. Then we’ll take those forms in new directions through altering, carving, adding embellishments, and experimenting with surface decoration. You’ll explore techniques like sgraffito, hand-painted underglazes, texture, and pattern while developing your own creative style. This class is less about making perfectly matching pots and more about discovering what you can create when you give yourself permission to experiment and play.

Some experience necessary! You should be able to center up to 3lbs of clay, and pull a 5” cylinder. These prerequisites will allow the class to begin from the perfect starting point. Milissa will work at a comfortable pace with plenty of demonstrations, guidance, and room for creative exploration.

8 weeks | 3 hours per week | $395

All clay, materials, instruction, and standard firings included.

Limited to 6 students for a small, personal class experience.

Forged + Fated

A Ceramic Character Workshop + Fantasy RPG Adventure

First, we create the characters. Then, we bring their stories to life!

What if a character you dreamed up could become something you actually made with your own hands? And what if that little clay creation could take you on an adventure…

Welcome to Forged + Fated, a three-part experience that brings together the art of ceramic sculpture and the imaginative world of tabletop role-playing games.

Over three evenings, you’ll sculpt your very own fantasy character from clay, bring it to life with color and glaze, and then step into a shared adventure where your creation becomes the hero of its own story.

Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or you’ve never rolled a twenty-sided die in your life, you’re welcome at the table. No experience with clay or role-playing games is necessary. Just bring your imagination and a willingness to try something new!

Part One: Forge Your Character

Saturday, January 23 | 5–8 PM

Every great adventure begins with a character.

Join ceramic artist Felicia Meyer for an evening of sculpting as you dream up and create your very own fantasy avatar. Will you make a wandering wizard, a woodland creature, a fearless warrior, or something entirely your own?

Felicia will guide you through the process of building and refining your character in clay, with plenty of tools, reference materials, and encouragement along the way.

Beginner Friendly!

Part Two: Bring Your Character to Life

Saturday, January 30 | 5–8 PM

Now it’s time to give your character a little personality!

We’ll return to the studio to glaze our sculptures, adding color, texture, and all the little details that make each one unique. Your finished creation will be fired and ready for its next adventure.

Part Three: Let the Adventure Begin!

Saturday, February 6 | 5–9 PM

Your character has been created. Its story is just beginning.

Gather around the table for a beginner-friendly Pathfinder adventure led by storyteller and Dungeon Master Steve Zatezalo.

Pathfinder is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game, similar to Dungeons & Dragons, where players work together to explore imaginary worlds, solve problems, make decisions, and tell a story as it unfolds.

Steve will guide you through the rules as you play, so there’s no need to study beforehand. Each participant will receive a set of dice and play a character inspired by the sculpture they created.

Expect a little mystery, a few unexpected twists, plenty of imagination, and probably a good bit of laughter.

This isn’t about winning or losing. It’s about creating something together and seeing where the story takes you.

Meet Your Guides

Felicia Meyer is a Beale Pottery studio member and sculpture instructor who brings a wonderful sense of imagination and creativity to her classes. She began teaching sculpture at the studio in 2025 and loves helping artists of all experience levels discover what they can create with clay.

Steve Zatezalo will be your guide through the fantasy adventure. As Dungeon Master, Steve brings the story to life, introduces the characters you’ll meet, and helps players navigate the unexpected. His approach is relaxed, welcoming, and focused on creativity and storytelling rather than complicated rules.

The Details

• Dates: January 23, January 30 & February 6, 2027

• Time: 5–8 PM for the first two sessions; 5–9 PM for the final adventure

• Ages: 16 and up

• Cost: $165 per person

• Limited to: 12 adventurers

• Experience: Absolutely none required!

Your registration includes all three sessions, clay, glazes, firings, guided sculpture instruction, a beginner-friendly Pathfinder adventure, a set of gaming dice, and your own handmade character to keep.

Only 12 seats are available for this special experience!

We hope you’ll join us for a little art, a little adventure, and the chance to make something entirely your own.

Participants will receive a welcome email before the first session. Please note that registrations are nonrefundable and cannot be credited toward future classes.

Live Music + Mugs
An acoustic night in the barn with Marcus + Mike from Stealin the Farm

Saturday, March 6 | 5 - 8pm CST
Beale Pottery · Westville, Indiana
$125 per person · 21+

Some of our favorite nights around the studio happen when we get to bring pottery and live music together. We love the music scene we have here in Northwest Indiana, and we’re pretty excited to have Marcus + Mike from Stealin the Farm out to play an acoustic set while we paint mugs. Bring a friend, bring something to sip - we’ll provide the snacks, and come spend a Saturday night with us.

We’ll have a brown speckled stoneware camp mug waiting for you, and I’ll show you how to paint a design of your own. Think about a favorite line from a song, your favorite band logo, a whole mug covered in flowers - or a combo of all those things. Bring a sketch or a picture if you already have something in mind. If you’re the type who likes to see what happens once you sit down, I’ll have templates and ideas here for you, too.

All materials are included, and beginners are welcome.

Feel free to bring your own beer or wine. A little cooler is handy if you want to keep it by your seat, and there’s room in the studio fridge. We’ll have sparkling water, coffee, and tea, and charcuterie style snacks too.

Let’s fill this room with friends, laughter, and have a good time!

Tuesday Nights
Jan 12th - Feb 16th | 6-8:30pm

Join Sydney in the studio for a brand new class dedicated to learning the basics on the pottery wheel. This 6 week class has been designed specifically for beginners, and will provide participants with an introduction to the fundamentals of wheel throwing, guiding you through each step of the process.

Over the course of the class, you will learn the essential techniques needed to create functional and artistic pieces. The camp covers topics such as wedging, centering clay, pulling, shaping, trimming, and glazing. Sydney will offer hands-on demonstrations and personalized feedback to help you develop your skills.

By the end of the class, you can expect to have a handful of completed pieces, along with a deeper understanding of clay and the pottery-making process. Whether you are looking to explore a new hobby or refine your artistic talents, this bootcamp is the perfect starting point for your pottery journey.

Sydney Kutanovski is the instructor for this course. She has been a potter for many years, and joined us here at Beale Pottery in 2020. Sydney has worked closely with Eric at the wheel, and has developed a solid skillset at the wheel. She has a passion for clay, and loves to share her enthusiasm for the craft.

Skill level required: None at all! Open invite for newbies!

Ages 16+ Welcome

Get ready to make some new friends, learn some cool stuff, and have a lot of fun being muddy. See you soon!

Saturday, February 13th 5-8:15pm

$245 per couple

Join us here in the pottery studio with your Valentine, and make this date night a memorable one! You’ll have a ton of fun - we promise.

We revamped date night to include NEW beginner friendly clay challenges for couples to compete in. We keep the night moving, and we always have a good time. After introductions, we will split into two groups for some fun clay games. One group will work on the wheel with Eric while the other hand builds projects with Milissa. We'll break for an incredible catered dinner from Joe + Freddy’s and swap places afterwards. The night will be set up so that each couple will have challenges to accomplish together at the wheel (yes, one wheel per couple - we're creating some real ghost moments, and on the hand building tables. Here’s how the night’s schedule will look:

5-5:15pm: Hellos + Intros

5:15-6:15pm: 6 couples on the wheels + 6 couple on the tables for clay games

6:15 - 7pm: Break for a dinner

7 - 8pm: We Swap! Hand building couples head to the wheels + wheel couples head to the tables for more clay games.

8-8:15 Ghost pictures if you choose/clean up

Most everything you need is provided for the night, you will receive an email with all the information you will need a day or two before the event.

You will not be keeping anything you make, but we do have a special gift for you and the opportunity to win pottery prizes.

We are not able to provide beer or wine, but you are welcome to bring your own and consume responsibly. We have a small fridge here to keep your drinks cold, but most couples come prepared with their own small coolers.

Your meal will be catered by Nicole Bisonette and her crew at Joe + Freddy’s Bar and Grill. We’re planning the following meal for you:

~ Sautéed Chicken Breast in a lemon caper butter cream with roasted tomato
~ Garlic Mashed Potato Puree
~ Mixed Grilled Veggies
~ Chopped Salad
~ Cupcakes provided by local baker :)

All of our in-stock pottery will be on sale at a 15% discount for participants. 

Ages 21+ | Beginner Friendly

Length of Event: 3+ hours | Price per couple: $245 | Max capacity: 12 couples

*Please note: No refunds or credits for cancelations