Glazing Your Ceramics

What is glaze? A specialized glass compound in liquid form Water soluble Seals, protects, and adds color to bisque fired pieces Can be food-safe or NOT Is painted onto a bisque piece, then fired in the kiln to permanently adhere it Undergoes a chemical change when fired. Color and sheen will change.

How to Use HOG-BRISTLE brushes only One brush per jar of glaze; dip brush directly into the jar Do not mix wet colors. In the world of glaze, yellow plus blue does not equal green. You can not tell what color the end result will be by looking at unfired glaze. It undergoes a chemical change in the kiln, and often changes color completely. A green colored glaze might fire to a red hue. Pay attention to the “sheen” as labeled on the jar. Glazes generally come in matte or glossy. If you want to know what color the glaze will be when fired, look on the charts above glaze carts or google the color code that’s located on the jar. At least 3-4 coats, letting each coat dry thoroughly in-between. Do not glaze the bottom of your piece!! It will fuse to the bottom of the kiln and have to be chipped out with a hammer.

Before firing (left) and After