Special Effects with Brush Application

Brushing glazes seems so basic that we seldom discuss it.  It just isn't sexy.  But I have spent the past year finding ways to make my brush applied Cone 6 electric glazes look dipped, sprayed, and gas fired.  And I am hoping that if I share my tricks, you all will share yours too.

My first secret is the glaze movement.  There are well behaved (viscous) glazes, there are shelf destroying runny glazes, and there is everything in between.  When I pick a glaze, color is not my first consideration.  Consistency is always my first concern.  I need 1 glaze that never moves, no matter what, and 1 glaze that runs like crazy.  It seems obvious enough that a viscous glaze does well along the bottom of the pot and a very runny glaze along the rim will give the effect of a nice thick rim dip.

Here, the white "rim dip" is a crystalline glaze.  It doesn't get any runnier than that (in fact I always use a catch plate).  I create this effect by applying the very viscous blue glaze from the bottom line and brushing up.  I want the top edge of the blue to be uneven and of various thickness, not just a solid line.  If it accidentally becomes a line, I use a sponge to break it up.

3 coats and allow to dry.

I then apply the runny glaze from the top edge down and overlapping the blue 1/4 inch.  because it is runny, it doesn't matter if a clear line develops at the bottom edge of the white glaze.  It is going to move all over the place anyway.  3 coats and allow to dry before repeating for the inside of the bowl (although I substituted a black liner glaze for the bottom inside). You can see more views of this piece here: Etsy - Lithology 

My next secret is that lovely burnt look at the rim.  This white glaze is not a breaking glaze.  That is a brushed effect.  I need to take some pictures, but I will be back with that description shortly.  Happy Saturday all!.

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Permalink Reply by Chantay Poulsen on June 19, 2015 at 11:02am

OK, I re-read and saw the second half.

Permalink Reply by Sharon Canfield on July 14, 2015 at 9:21am

Thanks so much for the crystalline glaze idea.  Have been trying to make a runny glaze and never thought of using a crystalline glaze!

How do you make your glazes brushable? 

Permalink Reply by Dawn Atkin on July 14, 2015 at 10:11am

I just add water until they brush well.  I know that some glazes won't do this, but I have lucked out so far.

Permalink Reply by George Lewter on January 26, 2016 at 5:12pm

Our member, Erik Evans has some fantastic US flag ware where the brush is used to great effect.

http://compellingthings.com/ 

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