Pottery is the art and craft of making objects from clay, which are then hardened by heat -- usually in a kiln -- to create durable items like bowls, mugs, vases, and sculptures.

• Forming: The clay is shaped by:

• Hand-building (coil, slab, pinch methods)

• Throwing on a pottery wheel

• Drying: Letting the piece air-dry until it becomes “bone dry”

• Bisque Firing: First kiln firing, turns clay into bisque

• Glazing: A decorative and sealing coating is applied

• Glaze Firing: Second firing, melts the glaze and finishes the piece

In short, ceramic bisque is the stage between raw clay and finished pottery -- strong enough to decorate, but not waterproof until it's glazed and fired again.

Ceramic glaze is a glass-like coating that’s applied to pottery or ceramics to give it a smooth, decorative, and waterproof finish. It's what makes ceramic pieces shiny, colorful, and food-safe.

Acrylic glaze is a clear or tinted paint medium used to create translucent layers over surfaces, typically in decorative painting, faux finishes, or crafts. It's not fired in a kiln and is different from traditional ceramic glaze.

Note: If you're decorating bisque pottery with acrylic glaze, it's usually for display purposes. It won’t be food-safe or waterproof unless sealed with a clear topcoat.