After spending £££ on ready-made glazes this year, I’ve decided it might be time to start making my own. The idea is to develop a palette of colours and finishes that are a little more unique to my work. Easier said than done, as it turns out.
So, I signed up for a Glaze Development Workshop at St Leonards Ceramic Studio to try to get my head around the basics.
It was a great day, although there was an awful lot to take in. Chemistry and maths have never been my strong points and glaze-making involves a fair bit of both. But I do love colour, and I’m fascinated by how a mixture of raw materials can transform into something completely different once it’s been through the kiln.
We spent the day mixing up glaze tests using some basic recipes, learning a little about what goes into them and how different ingredients affect the finished result. I came away with a slightly overloaded brain, but also the realisation that the possibilities are pretty much endless.
The plan is to start experimenting with my own recipes next year. Quite where I’ll begin is anyone’s guess, but I’m looking forward to finding out. Expect plenty of trial and error, a few surprises and probably a fair amount of head-scratching along the way.
What a mess!