Commission deadlines that ignore clay's natural pace are a recipe for disaster
I accepted a rush order for a dozen bowls last year, forcing me to use a heat gun to dry them faster. Every single one developed hairline fractures after the glaze firing, rendering them useless. That waste of time and material convinced me that clients who demand speed over quality don't deserve handmade pottery. True ceramics requires respecting the material's timeline, not imposing artificial ones. I now turn down any job that doesn't allow for proper, unhurried drying cycles.