Lindsey Demuth

Glazing Tips

 

1. Keep it Clean:  Work at a clean, dry, dust free table. Put newspaper down. Keep bisque ware clean and dry. Use a clean, damp sponge to wipe away and dust before you begin glazing. Be sure you remove all dust. If there is a lot of dust left over from sanding be sure to wear a face mask. Dust, especially ceramic residue is extremely abrasive to your lungs. Be sure you have clean hands, lotions, and even the oils from your fingers can create resist spots on the surface of your work.

2. Check Your Glazes: Glazes must be well mixed. If they are too dry or there is dry glaze caked to the sized of the container, sieve the glaze and return it to the container. If glaze is too thin let it sit uncovered overnight so some moisture evaporates. Add water if too thick. This will prevent thick glazes from running and ruining your work.

3. Glazing: Always glaze the interior of your pottery first. This will prevent dripping glaze on the outside potentially ruining any detailed or layered glaze work you’ve done. For complex pieces requiring a number of glazing steps, glaze the insides the day before to give you a drier surface to work with, especially for brushing. If glazing in a piece in more than one day’s time be sure to cover work overnight with clean plastic to prevent dust from settling onto your work. Be sure to apply glaze in even layers. Do not exceed three layers of glaze. Be sure to allow glaze to dry before adding your second and third layer. Glaze will be matte and dry looking and dry to the touch. If you apply another coat while the glaze is damp it will drag your foundation layer and glaze application will be uneven. If glaze drips or is in an unwanted spot wait for glaze to dry. Use a dental or trimming tool to scrap away glaze from unwanted area. Then use a damp sponge to remove any remaining glaze. 

4. Clean Up: If you’re glazing pots tho do not have a defined, trimmed foot, push them across a piece of 220-grit silicon carbide sandpaper. The sandpaper removes some of the glaze from the contact areas. This indicates where you need to wipe off the remaining glaze using a damp sponge. Make sure the foot and bottom of your pottery is clean before placing on the shelf to be fired.Wash out paint brushes thoroughly and return to canister on table. Clean off table, any banding wheels and throw away used newspaper. Leave pots on your shelf until a day or two before kiln is scheduled for fire. (you can cover them with clean plastic to prevent dust setting onto them which can cause blistering in your glaze)

5. Additional Decorative Glazing Methods:  Sgraffito:   This is the process of using two colors of glaze. You scratch through the top layer of a glaze to reveal the foundation layer of glaze. You can draw designs or write words using this method. You can use trimming tools or pencils to help you draw through your glaze. 2. Wax Resist:  Wax resist can be used to resist the glaze. You can paint a layer of glaze, let it dry and then apply wax resist, carefully to draw a design or write onto your pottery. When the wax resist is dry you can then paint a second layer of glaze in a different color. The wax will resist the second layer of glaze and reveal your foundation layer.