Master the Art of Ceramic Glazing

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. What is Glazing?
3. Why is Glazing Important?
4. Types of Glazes
   1. Low-Fired Glazes
   2. Mid to High-Fired Glazes
5. Underglazes
6. Creating a Glaze Catalog
7. Techniques for Applying Glaze
   1. Brushing
   2. Spraying
   3. Texturing
   4. Stenciling
   5. Sgraffito
8. Tips for Applying Glaze
9. Conclusion

Glazing Techniques for Ceramic Projects

If You're a ceramic artist, you know that glazing is an essential part of the process. Glaze is a thin layer of Glass that is applied to a ceramic piece to make it waterproof and food safe. In this article, we'll explore different techniques for glazing that you can Apply to your own ceramic projects.

What is Glazing?

Before we dive into the techniques, let's first define what glazing is. Glaze is a coating that is applied to a ceramic piece to make it waterproof and food safe. Without glaze, a ceramic piece is usually still porous and can absorb water, making it not functional for everyday use. Glaze is essentially a thin layer of glass that coats your ceramic piece, making it stronger and more attractive.

Why is Glazing Important?

Glazing is important for several reasons. First and foremost, it makes a ceramic piece waterproof and food safe. This means that you can use your ceramic piece for everyday use without worrying about it absorbing water or being harmful to your health. Additionally, glaze can add color, texture, and finish to your ceramic piece, making it more visually appealing.

Types of Glazes

There are two main types of glazes: low-fired glazes and mid to high-fired glazes.

Low-Fired Glazes

Low-fired glazes are typically more vibrant and are great to use for beginners since they tend to be more affordable. They are called low-fired because they are fired at a lower temperature than mid to high-fired glazes. Low-fired glazes can come in a variety of colors, textures, and finishes that can be applied to ceramic bisque to achieve different results and effects.

Mid to High-Fired Glazes

Mid to high-fired glazes tend to come in a wider range of textures, finishes, and effects and also look more sophisticated. They are called mid to high-fired because they are fired at a higher temperature than low-fired glazes. Take for example this matte chino glaze, which has an earthy finish or this glossy mid-fired glaze which breaks into several different colors when applied on texture.

Underglazes

Underglazes are a little different from your usual glazes because their base is made from Clay slip and pigment which does not form a layer of glass when fired. This also means that they can still absorb Water. Underglazes are usually sealed with a clear glaze. The cool thing about underglazes is that unlike glazes, they can be applied to both fired bisque and greenware or unfired clay alike.

Creating a Glaze Catalog

When you have a bunch of different glazes in your Studio, it's a good idea to Create numbered test tiles to help you keep track of them. You can think of this as a physical catalog of your glazes. This allows you to easily refer back to them and see how they behave on certain clay bodies or textures when deciding which glazes to use for your future projects.

Techniques for Applying Glaze

There are many different ways to apply glazes to achieve different creative results. They can be layered, sprayed, textured, or painted on depending on whether you're going for a solid color, a painted scene, or an abstract look.

Brushing

Brushing is the most common technique for applying glaze. For brush-on glazes, it's best to use soft brushes such as hake, watercolor mop, or fan brushes. You'll also need a cup of water to wash your brushes in and a sponge for any cleanup. It's a good idea to have a HAND towel to dry your brushes after washing them.

Spraying

To create a sprayed or splatter effect, you can use a bristle brush or even a toothbrush to spray the underglaze by tapping it or flicking a finger or wooden tool through it. This can create a bit of a mess, so it's best to clear up your workspace before doing this. Spray as much glaze as you need to achieve your desired effect and once you're done, allow the glaze to dry before removing the tape.

Texturing

When it comes to glazing the contour lines of a textured imprint such as this mug with pressed leaf imprints, it's a good idea to first sand down any unwanted texture and smooth down the plain surfaces by using sanding paper. Once sanded, your piece will be very dusty, so make sure to clean it very thoroughly and rinse your sponge frequently in clean water to avoid spreading the dust even more.

Stenciling

Stenciling is another fun glazing technique you can use. If you don't have any stencil sticker templates, you can simply use some masking tape and cut your designs out of it. Apply the glaze and once it's dry, remove the tape to reveal your design.

Sgraffito

Sgraffito is a technique that is exclusive to underglazes only. First, apply three coats of underglaze to your clay. Once that's dry, you can use a variety of different tools such as ribbon tools, carving tools, or pen tools to carve out your designs on the clay. What you get is a negative effect that shows the color of the clay beneath the underglaze.

Tips for Applying Glaze

When brushing on glaze, always try to apply it in a unified direction instead of doing random strokes to ensure an even coat and color throughout the piece. Keep in mind that all glazes you use on a single piece must be compatible with the same firing range of the clay body you're using. In other words, if you're using low-fired glazes, make sure that they are compatible with each other and the clay you're using.

Conclusion

In conclusion, glazing is an essential part of the ceramic process. There are many different techniques for applying glaze, each with its own unique effect. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced ceramic artist, experimenting with different glazing techniques can help you create unique and beautiful ceramic pieces.