Ceramic Glaze Layering Techniques

Experts share their glazing techniques and tips as well as favorite ceramic glaze recipes from low fire to high fire and everything in between.

Ceramic glaze layering techniques.

Not only does it add a safe sealed coating to your bisque fired wares making it waterproof and food safe it also brings your work to life with any color you wish to create. Use a lower specific gravity on the second and third layers submerge the piece in glaze for a shorter period of time or use brushing or spraying to apply thinner coats. Here you ll find the details on a wide variety of ceramic glazing techniques from dipping pots in glaze you mixed up to using brush on glazes for ceramics that are available at your pottery supply. Sponges can be used at nearly every step of pottery creation including glaze application.

Tips tools and recipes in every issue. Most potter s bisque at cone 06 to 04. The spruce crafts beth e peterson. Ceramic artists are always coming up with innovative clever ways to solve problems in the studio and ceramics monthly shares the best tips and stories in every issue.

Coyote has new photos showing layered cone 6 shino glazes. If so read on because it s time to try layering some glazes. Click the picture to see more combinations. This example on the right is shino 042 over black 002.

A good glaze starts with properly bisque pottery. For applying a decorative second layer of contrasting glaze you may want to use a porous sponge. For basic glaze coat application use a fine textured pottery sponge either synthetic or natural. Keep in mind you can single fire but is not recommended with many glazes that are made today.

Glazing your ceramics serves several purposes. The glazing process has the potential to make or break a good pot and believe me i have broken quite a few with poor glaze application. I have to admit glazing is not my favorite part of the ceramic process and i am always on the lookout for pottery glazing tips to help improve my outcomes. Amaco also has some photos showing layering of some potter s choice glazes.

In addition to the great studio visits techniques new work glaze recipes and the fascinating stories of ceramic artists living the dream your next time and money saving tip could be. The possibilities of glazing are endless and the techniques and patterns you can create with them have no limit. If the glaze is too thick it will eventually begin to crack and fall off the work.