06/18/2026
DIGITALFIRE
It would be a pity if Digitalfire went dark.
I'tve recently learned of a conflict involving Tony Hansen, the creator of Digitalfire, and Plainsman Clays concerning Digitalfire and its future.
It is difficult to overstate Tony Hansen’s impact on contemporary ceramics. Many of us became better potters because of Digitalfire. For decades, it has been one of the most important educational resources in our field, helping potters understand glaze chemistry, clay bodies, defects, and testing in ways that have empowered us to work with greater knowledge and confidence.
On a personal level, I’ve used Digitalfire to create an incredible collection of beautiful glazes over the years. And when materials changed or my glazes began to misbehave, Digitalfire helped me troubleshoot and solve problems that would otherwise have been nearly impossible to figure out on my own.
Perhaps most importantly, Digitalfire has encouraged potters to become informed makers rather than simply following recipes blindly. It has fostered curiosity, experimentation, and a deeper understanding of our craft.
I stand in support of preserving this extraordinary educational resource and deeply appreciate Tony Hansen’s lifetime of dedication to ceramic education. Whatever the outcome of this dispute, I sincerely hope that this remarkable body of knowledge remains available to the ceramic community and future generations of potters.
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