How to Fire Terra Cotta Pots in a Kiln

How to fire terra cotta pots in a kiln, I wondered. But I felt too chicken to try it out. I couldn’t really find anything online either, maybe one article. Then duh – I finally asked a friend of mine who is a ceramics (and kiln) expert. I tried out the method and hey, it worked!

NOTE: I have a newer Skutt kiln, before doing this I would check with the manufacturer of your kiln to make sure all is well! This worked for me, but since every kiln is different, do your research too!

I’ve always loved painting flower pots, it’s how Patrick and I started our business. We used to paint hundreds of pots for retail stores. But I wanted a different look, I wanted to see if I could actually put these through the kiln process. Thinking how they’ve already been fired once, why not again like I do with all my other bisque?

I bought an array of sizes of Italian terra cotta pots.

If you do this, make sure not to buy the cheapies, I’ve heard they have resin in them. Go with the solid, old-school terra cotta pots. I read an article that said to pretreat them by putting them through the kiln at Cone 04, then adding underglazes, then fire again. I skipped the first fire, figuring they’ve already been through that process. And my pots were brand new, no residue at all.

Wipe them down with a damp sponge to remove any dust or debris.

How to Fire Terra Cotta Pots in a Kiln

Add your underglazes. I used Duncan Concepts, and added details with French Dimensions! I’ve only ever used Duncan underglazes, I love them because the colors are bright and brilliant and work well no matter what designs I’m doing.

Since this was my test batch, I just played with the designs, lots of freestyle action going on here. These all have three coats of each color. I do think the yellow could use one more coat.

After the underglazes dried, I added a coat of Pure Brilliance Clear Glaze.

After that dried, I fired them at Cone 06, medium speed. I didn’t glaze the bottom rims.

They came out so shiny and lovely!

Actually, now that I think of it – some of them I didn’t add the clear glaze.

Duncan Concepts already fires to a shiny finish, so I wanted to see how it looked with the terra cotta staying “raw.”

If you don’t have a kiln, maybe ask your local paint on pottery studio or local arts community center if you can paint and fire pots there.

Dear lord, now that I know this works, I totally want to go buy more terra cotta and paint more! Oh, wait, someone is calling me from afar..hold on…

It’s my kiln – she is such a DIVA!

She wants me to post a picture of her because she said this was her first time and she was really nervous, just like me. Now she said she is a pro and excited for more terra cotta relations. Whatever THAT means!

Thanks for reading, let me know if you try this!