21 Essential Tips for Underglazing Your Pottery

[@ncmy4kids]

Thanks! You are the best!

[@PotteryCrafters]

Thank you so much for your support 💖

[@BetsyPearce-m7s]

New potter here! Thank you for this video, it has so much information

[@PotteryCrafters]

Hi Betsy. I am so glad you found it helpful! Welcome to the channel 💖

[@defyant1]

I always learn such valuable and timely tips from your videos! As a watercolorist, I want to paint a similar look on my clay pieces including whimsical houses, fields of flowers etc using splatter techniques to to retain that watery-color translucence look. Would you suggest painting on greenware or bisque? Which gives a softer look? Also I love your splatter ware idea but how do you do 2-3 coats and hit those exact marks again?

[@PotteryCrafters]

That sounds great. For splatter, I always do it on Bisqueware. I water it down and only splatter one coat. It works great for me. I would suggest splattering and then draw your whimsical stuff. Here is my splatter video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmXWeIujiJaZr7c Have fun 💖

[@lindawuerch561]

Love how you take your time explaining. You make it so easy to follow ❤

[@PotteryCrafters]

I was thinking the same thing. I didn't want to run through it too fast. Thank you so much!😊

[@elivean]

You will forever be my favourite when explaining. You have no idea how much I'm learning from you and how much you solve my doubts (since I'm learning on my own I have quite a few haha). I wonder, will the pencil burn off if it was already glazed over the underglaze? Thank you, Marie!

[@PotteryCrafters]

WOW! Thank you Elivean. I'm happy to hear that! Good question. Yes, it will because of the high temperature you fire to. Happy Glazing. 💖

[@Scoupe400]

*Question* on dust. I’m glad you bring it up 3:12, because I’m guessing the silica crystals in any glaze can become airborne once dry. Even when opening the lid to a used pot? Does underglaze have silica? And if not, presumably the stain is still something not fun to breathe into your lungs. I’ve a lot to learn about glazes and want to experiment with various aspects. Application, layers, thickness, merging / bleeding into each other etc. I just attended a short ceramics class, more a ‘come along and try what you like’ rather than education. The glazing takes longer than I think and end up rushing it before class end. Much like I never get to play or trim leather hard clay. I’m very surprised the class isn’t bothered about the dry glaze encrusted lids. No masks in sight. Getting into this at home, I’d definitely use my mask. I wonder if there’s good housekeeping you can do to avoid this problem; or instead accept it and keep a ‘dust room’ separate from your other work areas, with good extract ventilation. There’s some good videos on YT about the 2 major types of airborne matter that you need to block. I’d imagine pottery is just the dust type.

[@PotteryCrafters]

Great question and observation. Yes underglaze does have silica in it. Not as much as glaze. Yes the silica can effect your lungs over time. Keep in mind that sand from the beach and dessert also contains silica, but I'm causes like you. I use both a half mask respirator and dust mask. Here is a post that will help that includes glaze dust also. potterycrafters.com/pottery-clay-dust-how-to-minimize-it/

[@tammymeyers5028]

I love your videos. I’m a beginner also. And having trouble with firing. I think my.Kiln being outside under my carport has caused my pottery to look very dull.

[@PotteryCrafters]

Thank you. It could be over firing. Are you using witness cones?

[@mcout6672]

Thank you for your videos! You are so easy to understand and thorough with the important details!🙂

[@PotteryCrafters]

You are very welcome! I am glad you found them helpful! 👍

[@paanpathitta]

Thank you for this VDO!!! It’s very helpful for me. I’d like to ask, at what temperature can a transparent glaze be fired?

[@PotteryCrafters]

Glad it was helpful. That is a good question. You can use low, mid and high fire clear glaze. If you use high fire some underglazes will turn out darker. 😊

[@michellev3918]

Thank you so much for all this information!! I am new to underglazes, and this clarified a lot of the confusion I had!! 😊

[@PotteryCrafters]

You are so welcome. That is great to hear! 😊

[@allenfitz1]

I'm glad to see a new video from you. I enjoy your work and learn a lot. Thanks

[@PotteryCrafters]

So nice of you! Thank you 😊

[@maryjeanallen6189]

GREAT video, Marie, as always! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and experience!

[@PotteryCrafters]

You are so welcome MaryJean 💖 Glad it was helpful!

[@desertpotter1003]

Thanks for all this info 😊

[@PotteryCrafters]

My pleasure 😊

[@DenekiLakes]

Well done. Thank you so much.

[@PotteryCrafters]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you too 💖

[@igotbit9454]

I love your videos they’re so detailed. Do you have any brush recommendations for detailed work. Adding outlines with precisions to cartoons for example

[@PotteryCrafters]

Thank you! I really love these Transon detail brushes geni.us/CMu1i I think they hold the underglaze well and flow onto the pottery nicely.

[@airfryerman458]

thank you for making this :D do you have any tips on apply clear glaze to avoid smearing? does the direction or method of strokes matter? i'm using amaco's lead free clear gloss

[@PotteryCrafters]

You are most welcome. Make sure your underglaze is dry and lightly brush on the first coat. Don't go back and forth. I have never had smearing 😊

[@airfryerman458]

@ thank you so much! do you think dipping the piece in clear glaze would make smearing less likely?

[@PotteryCrafters]

You are most welcome. Yes. You are right. Just make sure the clear glaze is not thick or you will get a milky white finish. 😊

[@airfryerman458]

@@PotteryCraftersupdate: unfortunately it did still smear despite dipping it :( we think it might be an issue with the black underglaze we are using and its tendency to smear

[@PotteryCrafters]

So sorry. That is terrible. I rarely have that happen. If you are making sure the underglaze is totally dry, I think you are right, it could be the underglaze brand or just that color.

[@ss-futuregeneration]

How i wish you teach me more about glazing, we do pottery but have no knowledge on glazing apart from bisque/first firing

[@PotteryCrafters]

These videos may help kzbin.info/www/bejne/aICyiHaVp8x9hNE kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZuvZ32EbZ1-sMU and this post potterycrafters.com/how-to-choose-pottery-glaze/ hope these help to start with. 💖

[@jennag890]

Thanks😊

[@PotteryCrafters]

Thank you too 😊

[@Worrier629]

Thank you for covering this subject. My underglaze bottles have been developing mold. Any tips on ways to avoid it?

[@PotteryCrafters]

I have had that happen to my speedball underglaze and took it because it happened right away. Since then speedball has changed there recipe. I use spectrum a lot. I have heard to use a touch of vinegar but the underglaze may turn gritty. I will be talking with Amaco soon. Would you like me to ask them and get back to you?

[@Worrier629]

@@PotteryCrafters Thanks for a quick response, Marie. Yes please, do ask Amaco. I’ve seen this happening to some of my Velvet colours. I’ve been painstakingly removing the moldy layer. I’m in India and due to the high temp in my region (or another reason), Amaco velvets dry up quickly but they remain usable and are more dependable in their fired colour output than locally made underglazes. I don’t have access to other western brands in India. While Velvet Red-Orange-Blue colours remain moist, they develop mold.

[@PotteryCrafters]

Ok I will be talking to her in the next few days. 😊

[@PotteryCrafters]

Hi. I usually talk to Cara from Amaco directly but have not gotten through with her. So I emailed her. I'm still waiting for a reply. They most be very busy or short on help.

[@Worrier629]

@@PotteryCrafters Marie, I had also emailed Amaco’s cust care and got a response that the underglaze can be used despite the mold without affecting its fired colour…

[@ncmy4kids]

@potterycrafters Hi Marie. Thanks again for your wonderful, careful instruction. I have another question though. Can you use underglaze velvets, for example, on the outside bottom half of a mug without putting clear glaze over it. Would it still be durable, say, in the dishwasher (I would fire to clay vitrification and glaze inside and top outside). For that matter could I use full outside of mug with a wash like maycos manganese wash without clear glaze and be safe? THANKS!!!!

[@PotteryCrafters]

That is a good question. Yes you can! The wash also. You can put it in the dishwasher if the clay is vitrified. If you would like more detailed information these posts will help. 😊 potterycrafters.com/do-you-have-to-glaze-pottery/ potterycrafters.com/is-pottery-food-safe-without-glaze/

[@demetriadavisboyd7060]

Can I use regular watercolors or acrylic paints on ceramics?

[@PotteryCrafters]

That is a great question. If you use regular watercolors or acrylic paints on ceramics it will burn out in the kiln. If you don't fire the ceramics in the kiln then Yes you can. 😊

[@leannecorvington2457]

QUESTION: I apparently got a bit overzealous when underglazed my bisqueware vase, trying to ensure that I got good coverage and saturation. However, after it was fired, there was some cracking and peeling of the underglaze. The instructor suggested I knock off the glaze (rubbing with my finger) the areas that were peeling, and then reglaze only those areas, so we can then refire it. My concern is I am still seeing the ‘margins’ or outline between the new and old areas, meaning the thickness shift. Question is, when this gets re-refired, will those still show or will it smooth out?

[@leannecorvington2457]

Maybe after it’s fired, then sand lightly on the margins?

[@PotteryCrafters]

Good question. Yes the underglaze should blend with the fired underglaze. But Depending on how thick the fired underglaze is it may still show. If it is real thick you could try using fine sandpaper to smooth the extra underglaze and reunderglaze and bisque fire again before you apply glaze and final fire. That way if it doesn't blend you can still fix it. 😊

[@PotteryCrafters]

That's funny I just replied and noticed this question. Yes I suggested that too 👍😊

[@wendydee3007]

You're the best! Thanks :o)

[@PotteryCrafters]

You're welcome Wendy! I'm glad it was helpful 💖

[@leannecorvington2457]

Love this. Been experimenting with underglazes alot and loving them. However, one thing I keep running into is not enough color saturation or consistent coverage. It'll look too washy after firing, despite what appears as consistent coverage prior to firing. What can this be attributed to?

[@PotteryCrafters]

Thank you so much. I hope I can help. What temperature do you fire to? And at what stage do you apply your underglaze?

[@leannecorvington2457]

@@PotteryCrafters I’m taking a ceramics class at a community Arts Center, and they fire at Cone 6. Leather Hard Stage

[@PotteryCrafters]

Your underglaze should be more vibrant because it's fired to cone 6 and not 06. I know low fire is not as vibrant. Sorry I didn't ask this question earlier. What underglaze brand are you using?

[@leannecorvington2457]

@@PotteryCrafters It’s probably 06. Must have misspoke. Amaco underglaze. Issue is likely twofold: Adding a bit too much water to it to get a desired application consistency so it flows easier off the brush; and, perhaps not allowing enough dry time between coats, such that adding the next coat too soon results in degrading (subtracting from) the initial coat which hasn’t adhered enough to the leather hard piece. May have answered my own question. Think I’ll stick to under glazing on bisque ware, which seems to give me more reliable results. Any last word?

[@PotteryCrafters]

Very good! Yes, there are different variables involved in glazing. I was also thinking of making sure you don't apply the clear glaze too thick. Amaco is a good underglaze! Happy glazing 😊

[@kleinwolterinkable]

🌻😁

[@PotteryCrafters]

Thank you