Pottery glazing techniques for beginners: a complete guide

Glazing is where your pottery truly comes to life. That dull, bisque-fired piece transforms into a vibrant, functional work of art with the right glaze application. This guide covers everything beginners need to know about glazing pottery.

Understanding glazes

What is glaze?

Glaze is a glass-forming mixture that, when fired, creates a smooth, often colorful coating on ceramic pieces. It consists of three main components:

• Silica: The glass-former (creates the glassy surface)
• Flux: Lowers the melting temperature
• Alumina: Provides stability and prevents running

Types of glazes

By finish:

• Glossy: Shiny, reflective surface
• Matte: Soft, non-reflective finish
• Satin: Between glossy and matte

By temperature:

• Low-fire (Cone 06-1): Bright colors, earthenware
• Mid-fire (Cone 4-6): Versatile, stoneware
• High-fire (Cone 8-10): Durable, subtle colors

By opacity:

• Transparent: Shows clay body underneath
• Translucent: Semi-see-through
• Opaque: Solid color coverage

"Glazing is part science, part art, and part happy accidents. Keep notes on everything you do." - Master potter

Preparing for glazing

Bisque ware preparation

Before glazing, your pieces must be properly prepared:

1. Ensure complete bisque firing: Pieces should "ring" when tapped
2. Clean thoroughly: Remove all dust with a damp sponge
3. Check for cracks: Repair or discard damaged pieces
4. Let dry completely: No moisture should remain

Waxing bottoms

Prevent glaze from sticking to kiln shelves:

Glaze preparation

For commercial glazes:

• Stir thoroughly before each use
• Check consistency (like heavy cream)
• Strain if lumps are present
• Test on sample tiles first

For studio-mixed glazes:

• Follow recipes exactly
• Sieve through 80-mesh screen
• Allow to age 24 hours
• Record batch information

Application methods

Dipping

Best for: Even coverage, production work

Process:

1. Hold piece with tongs or fingers
2. Submerge completely in glaze
3. Count to 3 (adjust based on glaze thickness)
4. Remove smoothly
5. Let excess drip off
6. Touch up finger marks

Tips:

• Move quickly and confidently
• Maintain consistent timing
• Keep glaze well-stirred

Brushing

Best for: Detail work, small areas, decorative effects

Process:

1. Load brush fully with glaze
2. Apply in one direction
3. Allow to dry between coats
4. Apply 3 coats minimum
5. Cross-hatch directions for even coverage

Tips:

• Use soft, wide brushes
• Don't overwork the surface
• Watch for drips and runs

Pouring

Best for: Interiors, large pieces, controlled drips

Process:

1. Pour glaze inside piece
2. Swirl to coat evenly
3. Pour out excess quickly
4. Rotate as it drips
5. Pour exterior if desired

Tips:

• Work over a bucket
• Rotate piece as you pour
• Catch drips with your finger

Spraying

Best for: Even coverage, gradients, large pieces

Requirements:

• Spray booth with ventilation
• HVLP spray gun or airbrush
• Respirator mask
• Consistent air pressure

Tips:

• Apply multiple thin coats
• Keep gun moving
• Maintain consistent distance

Decorating techniques

Layering glazes

Create unique effects by combining glazes:

• Base + accent: Apply base coat, add accent on top
• Inside/outside: Different glazes for visual interest
• Dip + pour: Overlap for color variation

Wax resist designs

Create patterns by blocking glaze:

1. Apply wax in desired pattern
2. Let dry completely
3. Apply glaze over wax
4. Wax burns off in firing

Sgraffito through glaze

Scratch through unfired glaze to reveal clay:

1. Apply glaze
2. Let dry to leather-hard
3. Carve design through glaze
4. Clean edges carefully

Underglaze decoration

Apply color before glazing:

• Paint designs on bisque
• Fire to set (optional)
• Apply clear glaze over top
• Fire to final temperature

Glaze thickness

Getting the right thickness is crucial:

Testing thickness

• Credit card test: Scratch through glaze; should see thin line of clay
• Visual check: Even color, no pooling
• Touch test: Smooth, not gritty or globby

Common glazing problems

Crawling

Symptom: Glaze pulls away from surface, leaving bare spots

Causes:

• Dirty bisque ware
• Glaze too thick
• Dusty surface
• Oily fingerprints

Prevention:

• Clean bisque thoroughly
• Apply correct thickness
• Handle pieces carefully

Pinholing

Symptom: Small holes in glaze surface

Causes:

• Gas escaping from clay
• Firing too fast
• Glaze too thick

Prevention:

• Slower bisque firing
• Proper glaze thickness
• Soak at top temperature

Running

Symptom: Glaze drips down and pools at bottom

Causes:

• Glaze too thick
• Over-fired
• Too much flux in glaze

Prevention:

• Apply thinner coats
• Check firing schedule
• Wax bottoms properly

Crazing

Symptom: Fine cracks in glaze surface

Causes:

• Glaze/clay expansion mismatch
• Cooling too fast
• Glaze formulation issue

Prevention:

• Match glaze to clay body
• Slow cooling cycle
• Adjust glaze recipe

Kiln loading for glaze firing

Spacing requirements

• No touching: Pieces must not touch each other
• Shelf clearance: 1/2" minimum from shelves above
• Kiln walls: 1" minimum clearance

Stilt usage

For glazed bottoms:

• Use appropriate size stilts
• Position evenly for support
• Check weight capacity

Record keeping

Successful glazing requires good documentation:

For each piece, record:

• Clay body used
• Glaze(s) applied
• Application method
• Number of coats
• Firing schedule
• Results

Building your glazing skills

Glazing is a skill that improves with practice and careful observation. As you develop your techniques and build a library of successful combinations, tracking your experiments and student preferences becomes invaluable. Many studio owners use Ceramik to keep detailed notes on glaze combinations, firing results, and student projects, making it easy to replicate successes and learn from experiments.