Glaze helps strengthen, decorate and waterproof an item. It’s applied to a bisque piece by brushing, sponging, dipping, etc.
Glaze is a paint made from mixture of ground glass, clays, coloring materials and water. The paints are EXPENSIVE so we ask that they be used conscientiously.
Glaze Colors
There is a wide assortment of glaze colors in the kiln room. The color of the un-fired glazes (in the bottles) is often very different than the final fired color. As a reference, fired glaze tiles can be found hanging in front of the colors on each shelf.
Glazing Do's and Don'ts for the Docent:
Use only the brushes found in the kiln room for glazing. Other paints have different properties and will react unexpectedly on the pieces and in the kiln's high temps
Similarly, only use the dishes found in the kiln room for pouring paint.
Make sure glaze is well mixed (use a spoon or back end of a paintbrush to mix all the sediment at the bottom of the jar or your color will be much lighter)
Bring the tile samples of the fired glazes so that kids can see the color post firing. For example, sometimes a gray liquid glaze will really turn out green. Bring only the tile samples for the few glazes you bring for them to choose from.
Distribute the paints for the kids. Start with less and add more as needed.
Unused, uncontaminated colors can be returned to the bottles
Glazed pieces can be stored indefinitely until glaze fired in the kiln however they should not be stacked on each other until after firing as the glaze can scratch off.
Glazing Do's and Don'ts for the Students:
Encourage kids to use 3 thin layers of glaze. Three layers will produce the "truest" most vibrant color. Several evenly layered coats is better than big globs of glaze that can drip down the project when heated.
Glazes do not mix like paint to create a blended color
Avoid getting glaze on the bottoms of pieces. Should glaze drip or puddle onto the bottom, it can be easily cleaned off after the glazed piece is dry by rubbing a damp sponge on the bottom surface
Depending on the piece, initials can sometimes be covered after glazing. To avoid confusion or lost pieces a “fire proof” pencil can be used to put the names on their projects. It is located in the kiln room.
The PTSA is the school's Parent Teacher Student Association. We are a registered not-for-profit comprised of parent volunteers, just like you, who help provide many programs and events at Creekside.
