Wash Application

[Olga Biff]

Hi!

How do I apply washes to enhance the look of a glaze? Could you recommend any good online tutorial or have any tips to share?

For what I have read this world be a possible process:

·Bisque fire the piece

·Apply the oxide wash with a brush or sponge and wipe off excess

·Let dry one day (or longer if needed)

·Glaze as usual

Could also be done on top of the glaze? Would not the glaze be "washed away"?

Thank you so much!

[George Lewter]

Our member Carl Cructhfield probably uses stains and oxide washes more regularly than most of us. Check his work. 

You can download a free booklet from ceramic arts network daily on stains and washes. Go to 
https://ceramicartsnetwork.org/daily/ceramic-supplies/ceramic-color...

Washes over glaze have modifying effects which can unintentionally cause glaze instability and leaching of metal oxides into food, so don't do it on food contact surfaces.

[Donna Kat]

On bisque ware, under the glaze you can wipe away to give greater depth and variance in the color. You may risk crawling but I have not seen it. Over the glaze you can dilute it and use as you would water color painting (same for under as well). You can do a wash on raw clay as well but if you wipe away you are going to have a problem with wiping away clay and accentuating the grog or roughening up the surface. 

[Olga Biff]

Thank you Donna!

[Olga Biff]

Thank you.

[Kathleen Scott]

I do a lot of washes in my work. I have this recipe I learned in university. It is my go to recipe. Kingsmill Wash - 33% red iron oxide, 33% Alberta slip, 33% Bannard clay. Sometimes clear glazes can absorb the iron in varying degrees. The cup shows that under the blue, plus what the wash looks like without glaze. I bisque my greenware, apply wash, wash off excess, wax what I do not want glazed, dry overnight, then glaze. I do a lot of hand painting on glaze, and the wash doesn't pick up into the wet glaze.