Decorating your pottery pieces can really give you a chance to let your creative spirit flow. You may be surprised at how many different options are available in decorating your pieces. A popular way for many pottery artists to decorate their pieces is with different types and colors of pottery glaze. A unique type of glaze that can be used on pottery projects is underglaze. This article will introduce you to underglaze and its uses.
Underglazes are used in pottery to create designs that will come up or show through glaze applied on top of it. Underglazes are typically used underneath clear glazes, but they can also be used underneath light colored or transparent glazes. This technique was first used on popular blue and white porcelain from Japan. There are three types of underglazes available to create this visual and textural effect on your pieces.
The three types of underglazes available are engobes, slips, and stains. Engobes are the most popular form on the market today. They are created using fritted material, which reduces shrinkage and allows them to be applied to bisque ware. Slips have been used throughout history as under glazes. They are simply made of different colored clay pieces suspended in water. Stains are raw ceramic pigments suspended in water. Commercial stains are carefully prepared and blended so that pigments are consistent and reliable in color and how they handle.
Most underglazes will be available in a brush on form. These forms can be applied to your pieces using different paint brushes. Today there are also underglaze pencils, chalk, crayons, and semi-moist pads that can be used like water colors. These options may be better for lettering and tiny intricate detail. Experiment with this process to find what looks and color matches you prefer before applying the technique to special projects.
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