So I’ve been so busy glazing and getting work completed I totally forgot to go online and keep you all updated! Here are a few glaze tests I’ve been playing with. These tests are two color runs. The two on the left are colored with Manganese Dioxide. The two on the right are with Iron Oxide. Now the difference is the tile on the left in each group was fired at a hotter temperature and the top temperature was held for 1 hour and 15 minutes. The tile on the right in each group was fired at a lower temperature and fast cooled. I don’t know if you are able to see the difference in the photo but in person it’s evident and the feel of the texture is very different! So I’ll be posting some more photos of glazed work, tomorrow!!!!

I’ve been working on getting my crater glazes perfected. I had been firing them with my satin matt glazes and holding the kiln temperature to allow the matt glazes to develop their silky sensual surface. However, while this is great for the satin matt glazes it melts the crater glaze a bit too much. I am trying a lower temperature for the crater glazes and I will not hold the temperature. I’ll let the kiln cool naturally and hopefully that is going to solve the problem. Here is a photo of what the glaze looks like on the vessel before it’s fired. I make this glaze very thick. As you can see, the brush is able to stand on its own in the bucket of glaze. I put about 1/4 to 1/2″ of glaze onto the top third of the piece so it will flow nicely on the pot. More photos to come!

I started glazing today. It’s such a long and slow process for me. I am not sure why it takes me so long but it does. I used to brush on all my glazes because I couldn’t get the formula to not crack when drying on the pot. After much testing I found a combination of materials addedto my formulas allowed for a more smoothly flowing glaze that I can pour and it doesn’t crack when drying on the pot. Even though pouring is quicker it still takes me more time to glaze than it does to make and trim a vessel. This weekend I’ll be firing a few glaze loads with various temperature adjustments per load. I’m excited about seeing how some of these turn out. That excitement helps keep me going!!!!