How many coats of underglaze do you need?

A solid base layer of 2-3 coats of underglaze is important for the color to appear without streaking, but once you've got that down, you can use introduce water into the mix and start thinning down your underglaze to create washes.

How many layers of underglaze should you apply and why?

To get a vibrant rich color when painting on underglaze it's important to apply at least 2 layers. Apply 3 or more layers if you want opacity. If you only apply one layer, the color will look translucent when fired. Also, you will see brush strokes if you have only one coat of underglaze.

Do you have to glaze over underglaze?

Another advantage is that you won't risk messing up your design when you apply the clear glaze. However, you can apply the clear glaze right over the top of the underglaze without a firing between. This is best done if you applied your underglaze to bisque, because greenware can absorb glaze and crack.

How many coats of glaze do you need?

Typically, three coats are applied. Each dries slowly, hardening as it does so (the glazes contain binders). This provides a stable base for the next one.

When should underglaze be applied?

Potter-made slips (designs made of a thin clay and water mixture) should be applied when the piece is damp. Potter-made engobes (a decorative mixture of silica and glass) should be applied only to pots that have been bisqued. And traditional underglazes (comprised only of colored oxides) can be applied to greenware.

Underglazing Basics

Can you fire underglaze twice?

You can bisque fire twice without damaging your ceramics. Bisque firing more than once is quite common practice, particularly if you want to seal underglaze before glazing. There are certain decorative techniques, such as using china paint, that involve firing at lower temperatures multiple times.

Can I layer underglazes?

Yes, you can layer different color underglazes. In fact, many potters do this to create some great creative looks. By layering different colors of underglaze, you can achieve a variety of different effects.

How many times should you dip glaze?

Typical amount of time for dipping is 5 seconds. For darker colors, dip an additional one second in glazes that do not "move" too much. Using two glaze types dipping is not recommended, being that it is hard to determine how liquidy the combination of the two glazes will be.

Can you use too much glaze?

Application Problems

Applying glaze too thickly can cause the glaze to run off the pot, weld lids to pots and pots to kiln shelves, and can result in blistering. Applying glaze unevenly may result in splotches and streaking in both color and texture.

Do you let glaze dry between coats?

Let your Glaze Dry Between Coats

Don't take a chance and hurry the process. The more layers you apply, the longer you'll have to wait before applying another coat. Your glaze should be dry to touch before applying another coat. Keep in mind brush glazes take longer to dry than most dipping glazing.

Why is my underglaze streaky?

If you are using a brush to apply your underglaze, it can cause streaking. In effect, the glaze on the brush is dragging the underglaze across your pottery. Alternatively, if you are dipping your pottery in glaze, the underglaze can simply bleed. If this happens the design can become fuzzy and blurred.

How long should underglaze dry before firing?

Some potters will put their glazed ware straight into the kiln and fire it immediately. However, glaze contains water, and this is absorbed by bisque ware when glaze is applied. Ideally, leave your pottery overnight after glazing to allow this water to evaporate. Or add a pre-heat to your firing schedule.

Does underglaze stick to kiln shelf?

Normally underglaze does not stick to the kilns shelf when it is fired. However, this depends on the kind of underglaze you are using and how you have applied it. Most modern underglaze does contain silica, which melts when it is fired. So, your underglaze may become a bit sticky.

Can you paint underglaze over underglaze?

1 Using a watered down underglaze, apply an underpainting. 2 The first layer of underglaze is laying down the background color for depth. Painting bisque fired clay is a lot like watercolor painting in the application and mapping out of color.

Can you water down underglazes?

Underglaze can be thinned out with water and used as a watercolor wash. It's usually recommended that you use 3 layers of underglaze to build up opacity. So, if you dilute underglaze with water, you will need more layers to build up the color.

What causes crawling in glazes?

Crawling. Crawling is caused by a high index of surface tension in the melting glaze. It is triggered by adhesion problems, often caused by bad application. It occurs where a glaze is excessively powdery and does not fully adhere to the surface of the clay.

How thick should glaze be pottery?

Just right is about 'postcard' thickness. Rough guidelines: one dip 'instant' to 8 seconds, or two dips ('instant' to 2 sec. each), or a single pour, or 2-3 coats with a brush with each coat brushed in a different direction and waiting for the first coat to firm up/dry before second coat.

Why is my pottery pinging?

What does pinging pottery mean? If your pottery pings, it means the glaze and the clay beneath it did not adhere properly during the firing cycle.

Can I brush on a dipping glaze?

So, can you brush on dipping glaze? Yes, you technically can, but it may not produce the ideal results. Commercially prepared brushing glaze contains additives like CMC gum (brushing medium) that helps you brush the glaze on clay, while most dipping glazes are free from it.

What happens if you put glaze on too thick?

Fluid melt glazes will run off ware if applied too thick. Glazes having a thermal expansion lower than the body, and thickly applied on the inside of vessels, can fracture the piece during kiln cooling. Those having a higher expansion than the body will often craze if applied too thick.

Can you glaze something twice?

Conclusion. To summarize, it's possible to glaze fire pottery twice or even multiple times. Fired pottery can be glazed several times to add textures, accents, and effects, and multiple firings are possible.

Can you slip trail over underglaze?

Underglazes are wonderful and versatile because you can use underglaze on greenware and bisque ware. Kym Nicolas prefers to slip trail underglaze on greenware because it feels like an natural extension of the throwing process.

Can you mix underglaze like paint?

Underglaze doesn't mix exactly the same as paint or ink, where results match an Itten color wheel, but you can still mix them together, applying color theory as a basis to experiment.