As a potter, admitting that you despise anything about the ceramic process, is often met with shocked looks and disdain. But here I am confessing, not for the first time I might add, that I HATE MAKING GLAZES. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it! Wheeeeeee! that felt good......
But as much as I don't like doing it.......it still has to get done.
This week I maned up.....womaned up......and made some glaze tests.
Here are the results:
Andy Martin's Show Saver Base Glaze:
nepheline syenite 21.4
frit 3110 4.2
strontium carbonate 12.8
whiting 2.4
barium carbonate 22.8
grolleg (EPK) 2.4
silica (flint) 31.o
bentonite 3%
For Water Turquoise:
add: 4% copper carbonate
For Purple:
add: cobalt carbonate .25%
manganese carbonate 3%
For Grass Green:
add: chrome .5%
copper carbonate 3%
red iron oxide 1%
For Ultramarine Blue:
add: cobalt carbonate .5%
copper carbonate 3%
For Chartreuse:
add: .5% chrome
(be careful here. it calls for .5% not 5%. too much chrome is never a good idea)
I am going to remake the purple and the grass green with less of each metal for a little less intense color. Next week I'll post test tiles.
Have a great creative week!!!!
Leanne P
4 comments:
OH! It 'seems' like that SHOULD be the FUN! part.... hmmmmm... I've never tried it, but isn't that kinda like when you finally get to add the food coloring to the frosting when you are decorating cookies?? Or when you get to mix up the vinegar and dye at Easter egg time?? Oh I L.O.V.E. that part of the process!! The free reign of the coloration is The.Best.!! I'm sure I'm missing out on something or over simplifying though, right?!
I think being daunted by the glaze-making process is part of what's hampering my progress in ceramics!
Wow, these colours look great Leanne!
I'm always in awe of people who are brave enough to mix their own glazes. I think unless you have a tried and tested recipe to follow it's SCARY! Actually, it's probably still pretty scary! I would be completely clueless.
I love the designs on the test tiles by the way!! :)
Hey Svelte....it is unfortunately a lot more difficult than icing....which I love coloring as well:)Glaze making is tricky. and though it is not brain surgery, a bad batch of glaze can ruin a kiln load.....
I know Judah! It is intimidating and stressful.....But I have been doing it for ( i can't believe this ) 20 years. I have a lot of tips and shortcuts. Hit me up if you ever have any questions.
Thanks Un D!
for me it is just a plain pain in the arse:) But honestly it can be a little like Christmas when you open the kiln to see the results....if the results are good that is:)
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