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Underglazes

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In your sketchbook and at your table...

  • Look at the 2 objects at your table. Compare and contrast them in terms of color quality.
    • What do they have in common?
    • How are they different?

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  • Share out

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Underglazes

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Questions to ponder….

  • What are underglazes?
  • What do underglazes do?
  • How are underglazes different that glazes?
  • How do I set up my workspace?
  • How do I apply underglazes?
  • How do I clean up?

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  • What are underglazes?

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  • Underglazes are “paints” made from fine particle clay (slip) and colored minerals used to finish your project.

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2. What do underglazes do?

  • Underglazes are used to add stable color to your ceramics. They are good for detail work like letters since the colors generally don’t run.
  • Since you water them down, they are also good at showing texture.

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3. How are underglazes different than glazes?

  • Underglazes don’t flux (become shiny) on their own. You need to apply a clear glaze over the top of the underglaze to brighten the colors.
  • Underglaze goes under the glaze...

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4. How do I set up my workspace?

  • Get your brushes.
  • Get a mixing tray.
  • Select your colors;
    • Make sure it’s really underglaze. It should say Cover Coat and have a CC prefix on the bottle. For example CC165
    • Do you need to mix colors to get the color you want?
    • Add clean water to the center of the mixing tray.

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5. How do I apply underglazes?

  • Use on bisqueware.
  • Use the water and the mixing tray to dilute the color.
  • Apply, understanding it’s best to show brush strokes. Think watercolors...
  • Layer colors if you’d like to add a sense of depth or complexity to the colors.
  • Start with lighter colors first, ending with the darkest.
  • When completely dry, apply 2-3 coats of IN1001 clear glaze and place in the Kiln room on the right shelf.

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  • Underglazes are very expensive, use them sparingly AND wisely.
  • Share underglazes with table bros

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6. How do I clean up?

  • Return Underglazes to the correct cabinet.
  • Rinse and stack your trays at the sink.
  • Rinse and dry your brushes.

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Words to know...

  • Glaze - Colorants used on pottery that flux and become vitreous.
  • Underglaze - “Paints” made from fine particle clay and colored minerals used to finish your project.
  • Flux - To change into a glass.
  • Vitreous - A glassy surface.
  • Translucent - See through color.
  • Opaque - Solid color