Glazing 101 Workshop – Dana Field

Bring a bisqued pot and firing ticket, or just watch and learn! This is a beginner-level overview, perfect for studio pass users who haven’t had a recent class at the WAC. Learn about our different kinds of glazes at the WAC and how to avoid common glaze flaws. We will demonstrate application methods for bowls and mugs, and show finished examples of the good, the bad, & the ugly. There will be time for Q&A and coaching as you glaze the piece you brought. Instructor Dana Field is a retired botanist and perennial student of clay off and on since 1984.

1. Skills

• The different kinds of glaze: high fire, mid-range, and raku.
• Temperature range and fit to clay body.
• What is glaze made of: glass former, stabilizer, colorant
• Health and safety: hazards of silica and metal oxides, methods to avoid exposure and minimize dust, wet-wipe all spills, use gloves.
• Why glaze needs to be stirred thoroughly before each use
• Why & how to avoid cross-contamination between glaze buckets

2. Methods

• How to apply glaze: brushing, dipping and pouring
• Demonstrate use of wax, selection & care of brushes
• How to use and clean whisks, tongs, measuring cups
• How to dip or pour glaze onto different shapes – plate, bowl, cylinder
• Layering glazes – behavior of matte and shiny glazes, risk of running, experimenting safely

3. How to avoid common glaze challenges:

• Avoid drips, chips, bald spots, pinholes, running, crawling.
• How much glaze is enough, and how much is too much.
• How to work with glazes that run (interior of bowls, rims only)
• Use of cookies to avoid damage to pots and kiln shelves.

4. Considerations of pot bottom shapes (feet) for ease of glazing and aesthetics

Limited to 10 students, age 16 years & up.

$25 fee will support the upcoming WAC move.