How to Glaze Pottery
Ceramic glaze is a protective layer that adds a decorative sheen to pottery. Decide how to glaze pottery depending on the specific piece and the time frame for the project. The primary glaze techniques are sponging, painting,
dipping and spraying.
Use a sponge to cover a wide area of pottery fast while maintaining a degree of precision. The downside is that porous sponges may leave patterns behind in the glaze. Utilize the effect and create a textured design using a second layer of glaze applied over a smooth layer.
Create a precise, smooth application using a stiff sable paintbrush to apply the gaze. Use even strokes to prevent streaks and to ensure that any nooks or indentations in the pottery are coated. A smaller brush can be used to work the glaze around intricate details.
A project requiring a high number of products produced in a short period of time might use dip glazing. The glaze is poured into a deep bucket or trough. Pottery is carefully submerged into the glaze, allowed to set and removed to finish drying.
Spray glaze can also cover a large number of products quickly. When the spray is used carefully, according to package directions, it is a cleaner process than the dip glaze method. This method may miss glazing intricate details or indentations.
When deciding how to glaze pottery, consider combining two or more methods. Consider using a small paintbrush alongside any other method when the pottery is finely detailed to prevent unglazed spaces.
