1. Anatomy of a Glaze Bottle

2. There many different containers and brands. You need to know how to read the label for your safety, other’s safety and for great artwork!

3. Standard Bottle of Glaze

4. Glaze is NOT PAINT! Glaze is a mixture of powdered chemicals and water. The chemicals react at a certain temperature (either 1914 degrees to 2185 degrees!) ALWAYS KEEP THE LID ON TIGHT! If the glazes dry out… they are ruined.

5. GLAZE IS NOT PAINT You can’t mix glazes together or overlap them. They are chemicals and they will have a chemical reaction... And it might not be a good reaction. 1. Do not mix glazes 2. ALWAYS wash your brush BEFORE and AFTER you use the glazes to prevent cross contamination 3. Do not overlap glazes (unless the teacher approves it)

6. The label at the top tells you if is: Glossy = shiny matt = not shiny Underglaze = can be painted onto greenware and requires a clear coat later on

7. The Circle Fork & Knife = food safe “This glaze for decorative use only” = not for food!!!

8. The Color Name If you don’t know what the color name means, look it up on Google!

9. Some glazes are ONLY for red/terracotta clay. Check HERE! Firing Instructions THESE ARE IMPORTANT!!!!

10. We have 2 different temperatures that glazes “mature” at (we use 2 kiln temperatures) Cone 05 = low fire temperature 1914 degrees! Cone 5 = high fire temperature 2185 degrees! **Most glazes are Cone 05… PLEASE ASK BEFORE YOU USE A CONE 5 GLAZE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! “mature” = the point at which glaze reaches its best color, or the point at which clay reaches its strongest point

11. Glazes are chemicals. Each glaze is made of different chemicals and they make different colors. Just because the glaze looks brown in the bottle, it does not mean that it will turn brown when it is fired. When the chemicals react, they change! Example: Clear glaze looks pink in the bottle but after it is fired, it turns perfectly clear!

12. Never glaze the bottom of your project. The bottom of your project is called “the foot”. If you glaze the bottom of your project, it will stick to the kiln with we fire it!

13. REMEMBER: Always read the label! It could mean the difference between awesome and epic fail! You can do it!!