Glazing is an art in itself. It requires quite a bit of knowledge and most of all experience. It’s hard to know what the end result will end up looking like, especially if you’re combining different glazes. The only way is to test, test again, and test some more! But there are a few tips we can give you that will help you get the best possible result. We’re sharing three tips for beginners.
Choose a compatible glaze
Your glaze should be a good match for your clay. There are different factors to take into account, but the most important one is the firing temperature. Is it similar for both the clay and the glaze?
If your clay shrinks faster than your glaze during the firing, you’ll get a flaky layer of glaze that peels away from the clay. Because the glaze ends up being ‘too big’ for the clay. If the glaze shrinks faster than the clay, you’ll get hairline cracks. Because the clay ends up being ‘too big’ for the glaze. Finding the right match is key!
Make sure the clay is clean
Glaze melts when it’s fired. The silicum in the glaze becomes liquid and forms a coat that covers the clay. When it cools down, the glaze returns to solid form.
During this process it’s very important that the glaze can bind properly with the clay. And if there’s impurities like dust or clay slip in the way, that’s a lot harder. Even something as innocent as a fingerprint can cause problems, because the oils on your skin often cause oily spots.
And that could lead to an end result with blemishes. From a couple of unglazed spots around the edges of your pot, to small islands of glaze with bare spots all around them. So make sure that you clean the clay thoroughly, with a damp rag or sponge for example. But make sure that the clay doesn’t get too wet, because that could also prevent a good binding.
Use the right amount
More isn’t always better. If you’ve applied your glaze in too thick of a layer, you could get small craters on the surface after firing. You might also get a muddy effect, especially if you’re using a transparent glaze. And your glaze could also start running, and end up in places it’s not supposed to be, resulting for example in a lid glued shut. Although you can avoid that by applying some wax resist in the right places.
But not using enough glaze also has bad consequences. You could get an ugly stripe effect, and inconsistent colouring. Often your glaze won’t have that beautiful smooth shine, and it will feel rough to the touch.
In most cases it’s better to apply multiple layers of glaze. But make sure the previous layer is completely dry, before you start the next one.
And keep trying!
Of course there is so much more to say here. About mixing and sieving glaze for example, or about the right firing programme. But these three tips are a great place to start! And the fourth, most important tip? Practice makes perfect!
