idlelizard

🦎@idlelizard🦎: My art! Mostly creatures ◀YOU ARE HERE

🐍@wavywyrm🐍: Occasional reblogs

FAQ▼

Thank you! I have my fair share of glaze fails, I just don't post them haha. I can run through my previous points of failure+ ways to avoid them.

Mix your glaze thoroughly! I've had trouble with this when painting on glaze since the pigment settles back down quickly even after thoroughly mixing the bucket. This results in a watery/patchy look since the layers don't have enough pigment throughout! (See first image) I just make sure to swish the brush around the cup each dip.

TEST SWATCHES! We already have some test tiles available at the studio I use, but results still vary depending on application method, layer thickness, and clay body. Also, just because two glazes are independently stable that doesn't mean they'll layer nice! Bisque a bunch of test guys to have preprepared for experiments before sacrificing a big complicated piece to the unknown!

Consistent coat application. Rotate the piece as it dries after dipping to avoid it settling more on one side. For painting glaze brush it on evenly and keep track of how many layers you've done.

If you're worried about glaze dripping then thin the area around the base a bit extra with a finger, paper towel, or cotton swab on dry glaze. I do this more when it's sculpted/carved in a way that the glaze could pool and run near the bottom. Paper towel/cotton swab can be damp to avoid glaze dust (not good to breathe!!!) but is harder to control since it removes more at once; just have a light touch.

Sometimes it's a firing issue. I had a cup (last picture below) bubble/drip terribly from over firing through no fault of the glaze application. Gas kilns have a lot of temperature variation- I've had pieces with the same glaze turn out very different depending where it's placed. Some glazes seem more sensitive than others with this.

Lastly, I know some people swear by washing their bisqueware before glazing. I only do this if it's dusty so that the glaze has a clean surface to settle on. Just let it dry THOROUGHLY before glazing.

They are siblings and i love them and their eel-like antics very much. They love eating worms so much that they will jump above the water to grab them from my fingers.