Making Tiles

The Tile-Making Process

All of my work is created by hand from the highest quality, locally-sourced porcelain clay. When I make tiles, the first step is to roll wet clay into smooth slabs and then cut it by hand into my desired size or shape. 

Once trimmed, the rough clay tiles require several days of drying before handling again to prevent potential issues with warping. 

When the tiles have become firm, I carve an image into the surface and sometimes trail liquid clay over top into organic designs of branches or grass.

After another period of drying, the tiles are fired in a ceramic kiln to a low temperature. The first firing is called the "bisque firing" or "biscuit firing". After being bisqued, the tiles are then durable enough to be hand-painted with special paints called underglazes. The underglazes are designed for being fired in the kiln at a high-temperature without losing their colour.

Once the painting is completed, the tile is dipped into a glossy, clear glaze and fired for a second time to a very high temperature (approximately 2170 degrees Fahrenheit) where it transforms into a durable ceramic material.

While they make beautiful wall art, these tiles can also be installed as part of your kitchen, bathroom or fireplace renovation. If you would like a completely handmade installation, blank tiles are available upon request. Learn more about installation here.

The entire process takes approximately 2-4 weeks for each batch of tiles. As these tiles are made entirely by hand, they are rarely perfectly flat or perfectly square but this is part of their inherent charm. I like to call them "perfectly imperfect".