Mastering the Art of Glazing Pottery: Tips and Techniques

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Unpacking the Kiln
3. Prepping the Bisqueware
4. Applying the Glaze
5. Cleaning Up the Glaze
6. Tidying Up the Foot
7. Maker's Mark and Final Checks
8. Firing the Kiln
9. Conclusion

Applying the Glaze

Applying glaze to pottery is a crucial step in the process of creating beautiful and functional pieces. It is a slow and meticulous process that requires a lot of care and Attention to Detail. In this article, we will take a closer look at the glazing process and explore the different techniques and methods used by potters to achieve stunning results.

Unpacking the Kiln

The first step in the glazing process is to unpack the kiln. Once the pots have been fired at 1000 degrees Celsius, they are removed from the kiln and left to cool down. At this stage, the pots are very absorbent and will draw in moisture like a sponge. They are also quite fragile, especially the thinly trimmed pots, so it is important to handle them with care.

Prepping the Bisqueware

Before applying the glaze, the bisqueware needs to be prepped. This involves waxing the bases of the pots, together with the undersides of lids and the galleries on jars. This layer acts like a simple resist, preventing the Clay body from absorbing Water. This is important because if the pots have glaze on their bases, they will stick to the kiln shelves during firing, which can ruin the pot.

Once the bisqueware is prepped, the glazing can begin. There are hundreds of ways of glazing pots, and there are almost endless combinations of surfaces, slips, glazes, and textures that are possible to achieve. In this article, we will focus on one particular glazing process.

Applying the Glaze

Once the glaze is thoroughly mixed up, it is checked for thickness. For a vast majority of work, the pot is simply grasped with a pair of tongs and submerged for a few seconds. In this time, the water is absorbed into the porous pot, and a layer of the raw materials that make up the glaze is left covering the surface everywhere there isn't wax.

It isn't always just a case of submerging the pot and pulling it out. Instead, the potter needs to think about things like the angle the pot goes in, how they remove the pot, and then how they move it thereafter. The thick layer of glaze on these doesn't solidify Instantly, and in some cases, the potter needs to keep waving the pot around in midair so that the quickly drying glaze settles into a nice even surface.

That being said, that doesn't always happen, and more often than not, there are a few stray drips that cover the surface. With any pot that was dipped using the pair of tongs, there are the marks left by the four metal spikes that make contact. Bowls are easy enough as long as they aren't too large, yet with a pot like these bud vases, which have an enclosed interior, the glaze needs to be swirled around the top and bottom to make sure the interior walls are coated.

Cleaning Up the Glaze

Once the pots have been glazed, they are left to sit out overnight so the sodden clay and the glazed surface have some time to dry out. This makes the following step so much easier, as their surfaces turn from being very tacky and stiff to powdery in light, which makes things like tongue marks or stray drips far simpler to clean up.

Cleaning up the glaze is a slow and steady process, but it is essential to achieve a professional-looking finish. The potter needs to work hard to make the line where clay and glaze meet as clean and crisp as possible, so there are no specks of glaze left on the base.

Tidying Up the Foot

Tidying up the foot is a crucial step in the glazing process. Accurately cleaning up the glaze line both on the outside of the foot and the inside can be relatively fiddly. The potter needs to grip the pot in such a way that their fingers don't move and rub over the surface as it can potentially damage the glaze.

Maker's Mark and Final Checks

The last part of the glazing process is to check the maker's mark. If there are any small specks of glaze stuck within it, the potter will gouge it out with the tip of a knife. Once the pots are finished, they are left to dry out before being fired in the kiln.

Firing the Kiln

Firing the kiln is the final step in the process of creating beautiful and functional pottery. The pots are fired at 1300 degrees Celsius, which changes their colors from pastel pink, red, and white tones into much glossier green, white, and gray hues. The pots will shrink a tiny bit and are set in stone forever.

Conclusion

In conclusion, glazing pottery is a slow and meticulous process that requires a lot of care and attention to detail. There are many different techniques and methods used by potters to achieve stunning results, and trial and error are an absolute must. The thickness of the glaze is almost the most important thing when it comes to glazing pots, as it greatly affects the final appearance of the piece. With practice and patience, anyone can learn to glaze pottery and Create beautiful and functional pieces that will last a lifetime.

Highlights

• Glazing pottery is a slow and meticulous process that requires a lot of care and attention to detail.
• The thickness of the glaze is almost the most important thing when it comes to glazing pots, as it greatly affects the final appearance of the piece.
• Tidying up the foot is a crucial step in the glazing process.
• Firing the kiln is the final step in the process of creating beautiful and functional pottery.
• With practice and patience, anyone can learn to glaze pottery and create beautiful and functional pieces that will last a lifetime.

FAQ

Q: What is the purpose of waxing the bases of the pots before applying the glaze? A: Waxing the bases of the pots prevents the clay body from absorbing water, which means the layer of raw materials that make up the glaze can't adhere to these areas properly. This is important as if the pots have glaze on their bases, they will stick to the kiln shelves during firing, which can ruin the pot.

Q: What is the most important thing to consider when glazing pots? A: The thickness of the glaze is almost the most important thing when it comes to glazing pots, as it greatly affects the final appearance of the piece.

Q: What is the final step in the process of creating pottery? A: Firing the kiln is the final step in the process of creating beautiful and functional pottery.

Q: Can anyone learn to glaze pottery? A: Yes, with practice and patience, anyone can learn to glaze pottery and create beautiful and functional pieces that will last a lifetime.