Lili Krakowski on tue 20 dec 05
A great many on this list learned their potting in recreational =
classes...where the Glazing Lessons go like this.
The week before last class the teacher announces: "hey, Folks. Next week =
we glaze....and if you feel like it, do bring some goodies so we can =
have party...."
So the teacher or the tech mix glazes and these sit in their buckets. =
And then the class comes in, and if it is the fist class they are very =
lucky....because after 5 classes everything is a mess, and one is lucky =
if glazes have been poured back into their proper buckets.
So then there a tiny demo by the teacher...and then the class is let =
loose. "Do I have to rinse that before I glaze?" "Oops, the handle =
came off...can I stick it back on?" "You mean I should not dip the pot =
I just glazed black into the white bucket?" And that is just for =
starters.
PEEPHOLES! It takes JUST as much practice to glaze properly as it does =
to do anything else properly in clay.
So.
HOW TO GLAZE PROPERLY.
Read and study the diverse techniques as shown in books. Dipping may be =
the most frequently shown. (If there are videos and you can afford one, =
give that a look.)
Now.
Make or salvage about 20 pots that you do not care about. Pots with =
spouts, with handles, thingies with galleries and lids. Big flat =
plates. Big deep bowls, bottles.
Have them properly bisqued.
Now prepare a large bucket of mock glaze. I suggest maybe 70% silica =
and maybe 30% clay. Add some color like a little food colorant to make =
overlaps more visible. =20
Prepare this as you would a glaze. Mix, sieve 3 times.
With a few "vessels" on hand....dishpans, large plastic bowls, kitty =
litter pans, oil-changing pans, cleaning pails---decide on what method =
you want to try first.
Lettuce say it is "pouring". Review in your mind what you have read. =
Now start to glaze all 20 pots by pouring. When you have done, have a =
little rest. =20
Rinse the pots thoroughly and allow to dry. If you rinse into a big =
bowl you will be able to reclaim your mock glaze. Have a little rest.
When the pots are dry, wash them gently as you would "fresh" bisque, and =
start the whole process again. Have a little rest.
After you have pour/glazed all those 20 pots 5 times you will know how =
to do it....
Next week: try dipping. This requires quite a bit of glaze but for =
smallish pots a 5 gallon bucket should work. Repeat the whole process =
as above.
After doing it 5 times you will know how to do it. And what pots lend =
themselves to dipping and which better not.
Do you get the idea? Glaze application demands as much practice as =
anything else. And this has NOTHING do with whether you plan to mix =
your own glazes or buy them... NB I do not mention waxing the feet. =
There is no point here, and then, I rarely wax feet anyway.
The "have a little rest part" is not a joke. This is hard tedious work, =
and tiring.
Lili Krakowski
Be of good courage
2ley on tue 20 dec 05
From: "Lili Krakowski"
Subject: [CLAYART] Glazing techniqes
Good advice. Following that up with creating test tiles and pieces would
make good sense, so that you get an idea of the final results.
Philip Tuley
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