Billy Madison Was Wrong: Why Science is Your Creative Superpower
“Chlorophyll? More like BOROphyll!”
Remember that scene from Billy Madison where he dismisses learning about photosynthesis as completely useless? I used to feel that—rolling my eyes at the more obtuse lectures in my science courses, wondering when I’d ever need to know the nitty gritty details of molecular structures or chemical reactions in “real life.”
In college, I had to take high-level chemistry courses for my pre-optometry requirements. Everything about chemistry irritated me: memorizing equations, working out tedious solutions, but worst of all, the “WHY ARE WE DOING THIS?” feeling that plagued every lab session. I knew I needed to understand chemistry as a future doctor, but much of the coursework felt completely disconnected from actually helping patients.
Fast forward years later. I’m back in ceramics, thrilled to be taking an art class and not organic chem. The instructor is discussing the glaze process, explaining how copper carbonate creates green glazes in reduction firings but flashes red in oxidation atmospheres. I’m watching my classmates’ eyes glaze over (pun fully intended) as he dives into the molecular reasoning behind these color transformations.
But me? I’m nodding along, practically cheering inside! All that chemistry torture was suddenly worth it—even though I’d left that medical career behind.
Wait!, what?
There’s actually so much science in art!
Today I want to convince you that understanding the science behind your art isn’t just helpful—it’s your creative superpower. And by the end, I’ll give you three ways to start building your own scientific toolkit that will make your artistic life infinitely easier.
The “I’m Not a Science Person” Myth
How many times have you heard someone say, “Oh, I’m just not a science person” when faced with learning about glaze chemistry, clay body formulations, or firing atmospheres? I get it—science can feel intimidating, or just boring, especially when you have an artistic vision in mind and just want to make it happen.
But here’s the thing: you’re already doing science every time you create. You’re observing, hypothesizing, testing, and adjusting. The only difference is whether you understand what’s happening behind the scenes.
When you don’t understand the “why” behind your materials, you’re stuck in an endless cycle of trial and error. Your glaze crawls, and you don’t know if it’s because of the clay body, the application thickness, or the firing schedule. You get beautiful results once, but can’t replicate them because you don’t know what variables created that magic. This is so common with new ceramic students, who just want to make something cool, and hesitate to slow down and build knowledge.
This flying-blind approach doesn’t just waste materials and time—it creates an emotional toll. Every “failure” feels random and discouraging instead of informative. You start to doubt your abilities rather than questioning your approach.
The Science-Art Connection: Your Creative Superpower
Here’s what I’ve learned from my unique perspective as both a former healthcare provider and practicing artist: understanding science doesn’t limit creativity—it amplifies it.
Start with One “Why”
Pick one thing you do regularly in your artistic practice and dig into the science behind it. For ceramic artists, this might be understanding why clay cracks when it dries too quickly. The science is actually fascinating: clay particles are plate-like structures that shrink as water evaporates. When the surface dries faster than the interior, differential shrinkage creates stress that results in cracks.
Suddenly, slow drying isn’t just a rule someone told you—it’s a logical response to material behavior. You start instinctively covering your work with plastic, misting it lightly, or moving it away from heat sources because you understand what’s happening at the molecular level.
It’s SCIENCE.
Know your materials for greater success and ease in your work.
Connect Science to Your Creative Goals
Where this really gets interesting is using science to solve problems in your art practice.
A few months ago, everything I got out of the kiln was chipping on the bottom. I could not figure out why! My glaze was not running, the bottoms were clean. So, what the…after my frustration settled, I talked to the studio manager. She made a great point: porcelain clay is THE most fluid in the kiln. And it will move, bend and warp most where it is thinnest. My edges were sharp 90 degree angles, so right at the point where the clay touched the kiln shelf, that thin corner was melting and sticking to the shelf, and then chipping off once the clay cooled and was removed from the shelf.
The solve was SO easy, and actually created a look that really goes with my style - nice, rounded edges that keep a uniform thickness along the bottom corner of the piece. It was so satisfying pulling that next batch out of the kiln, perfectly intact!
Science doesn’t replace intuition—it gives intuition a foundation to build on. Working WITH and not against the properties of the materials created efficiency, ease, and confidence in my process.
Build Your Scientific Toolkit
You don’t need a chemistry degree to benefit from understanding your materials. Start with resources specifically designed for artists:
- Books like “Glazes and Glaze Calculation” by Richard Behrens make complex chemistry accessible
- Online forums where ceramic artists share their scientific discoveries
- Workshops that combine hands-on learning with technical explanation, like the upcoming Clay Camp virtual education weekend on glazing and firing, offered through The Ceramic School.
The key is connecting scientific principles to your immediate creative needs. Don’t try to learn everything at once—focus on understanding the processes most relevant to your current work. Over time, you’ll build a helpful bank of information that will enrich your art.
Knowledge is power!
Build your bank of scientific principles that support your work.
Summary
Even though I love the movie, and my brother and I can (and DO) rattle off every quote…in this case, Billy Madison was wrong. Understanding the science behind your art is one of the most valuable investments you can make. It transforms frustrating mysteries into solvable problems, random luck into repeatable success, and limitations into creative opportunities.
That chemistry knowledge I resented in college? It’s now one of my greatest assets as an artist and teacher. Those equations I memorized, the molecular structures I studied, it all contributes to my ability to create confidently and help others do the same.
Science isn’t the enemy of creativity—it’s creativity’s best friend.
Call to Action
- Quick Win:
Choose one technique you use regularly and spend 30 minutes researching the science behind it this week. You’ll be amazed at what you discover.
- Solid Solution:
Pick up a book on the technical aspects of your medium, or sign up for a workshop that combines hands-on practice with scientific explanation.
- Treat Yourself:
Start a “science journal” where you record your experiments, observations, and the reasoning behind your creative choices. Watch your artistic confidence grow as you build your knowledge base.
Remember: knowledge is power, especially when it comes to making art that truly expresses your vision.
With Enthusiasm for Life & Art,