For a successful glazing experience, consider these essential tips:
1. **Waxing the Bottom**: Apply a thin layer of wax to the bottom of your pottery pieces before glazing. This simple step prevents the glaze from adhering to the kiln shelf, making cleanup after dipping effortless and saving your pots from damage or possible sticking to the kiln self if not properly cleaned beforehand.
2. **Thorough Glaze Mixing**: Before dipping your pottery, ensure thorough mixing of your glazes. This step is crucial for balancing the chemistry of the glaze, ensuring consistent color, texture, and finish across your pieces. Use a high-speed drill and a paint mixer attachment for thorough blending!
3. **Patience in Drying**: Allow sufficient drying time for your glazed pottery before firing. Rushing this step can lead to moisture trapped within the clay body, causing cracks or even explosions during the firing process. Aim for a dry surface with a powdery texture before placing your pots in the kiln!
By incorporating these tips into your pottery practice, you’ll enhance the quality of your finished pieces and enjoy a smoother glazing process
Oh and have fun experimenting!!!
Happy Potting Everyone ❤️
Simple But Effective Way To Get Texture!
1. Maintain Wall Thickness: It’s crucial to leave some thickness in the wall to shape the pot after applying the wave decoration with a pottery comb. Creating a belly in a vase or bowl naturally thins the walls, so ensure ample thickness remains. I generally leave a centimetre and a half to 2 cm for this process.
2. Gentle Comb Use: Avoid digging the pottery comb too deeply into the wall, as it weakens the structure. However, don’t shy away from experimenting. Pottery is forgiving, allowing room for exploration, metal combs and scorers can also be used for this process and they can give very very good results as well
3. Shape Refinement: After decorating the exterior, use a slightly damp sponge to shape the pot from the inside out. Start from the base and work upwards, easing off pressure towards the top to avoid distortion or collapse. You can also support the top lip with your fingers to keep the top circumference of the bowl or vars from becoming too large when shaping.
4. Patience in Drying: Cover the pot with a plastic bag for 24 to 48 hours before trimming the base. After trimming, return it under the plastic bag for a couple of weeks to dry slowly, helping minimizing the risk of cracks!!
Hope you enjoyed this post and as always, Happy Potting Everyone but also Wishing you a very good Anzac Day If your Residing In Australia 🌺
