Small Lidded Cup

Here, I tested my copper-rutile glaze on a small lidded cup. It’s always good to test glazes on something other than a test tile. The results are often very different! In this case though, the glaze stayed true to form.

Expanding a Glaze Test

In my Advancing Glazes course, we are encouraged to “map out” glazes to see where they will go. Here is the result of mapping out my copper-rutile green glaze. The interesting phase separation and crystallization that produces the blue speckles in the heavier application areas is where the glaze falls into what’s called a micozone, or a very small area of opportunity. As I added more alumina, this effect started to disappear. In the semi-matte region, the blue took on the role of turquoise-green blue matte. Endlessly fascinating.

Hard-Won Glazes

No new ceramic pots just right now–I’m in one of those in-between stages–but I am making some miniscule progress on a few glazes. After taking the Advancing Glazes class with Matt Katz this summer, I realized that my basic glaze course from last year did not prepare me adequately to make viable glazes. After another few months of immersion, I think I can now move forward with more confidence.

Not to say that I didn’t have my share of problems with glazes over the summer: finding kilns, finding kilns that would give me consistent temperatures, glazes melting all over the place (fortunately I always used protection and didn’t destroy any kiln shelves), electricity not cooperating, etc., etc.

Here are the three glazes that have made the cut so far. At some point, I need to have them tested for food safety. Two faux metallics, an olive green, and another green that surprised me by breaking to blue in the heavy application areas. I need to test them on some pots made of different types of clay. I’m still working on variations of the first faux metallic with the crystals and the green with blue.