Technical Information

I bisque fire to 1010 degrees then sand paper the surface of porcelain to make sure the surface is smooth and pick out any material so to eliminate any pin holing.

I use 2 different gravity sprayed guns to apply the colored glaze layers in and out side the piece.

With the vessel placed upside down on foam on a banding wheel to protect the fine rim, I then work with Liquidtex, a painting medium and paint small areas of this resist over the raw glaze.

Using blades I carefully cut out the lines back into the glaze on top of the resist applied, then clean the channels with a soft dry brush to enable me to fill again with another color then sponge back. This then creates that wondering incising quality back into the glaze.

(Of course when you fire in the kiln it all burns off leaving those wonderful sensitive lines.) I then glaze fire to cone 4/5 depending on the effect you want matt shinny finish etc. All works are only fired twice Bisque then once glazed.

You can use any off white to white finish base glaze you like. Then add Alkine Frit 4124 to the glaze to find the right temp. The best way to achieve this is by doing a line blend 10/15/20/25% to the base glaze which will assist in fluxing the glaze to the temperature you want.

I use one base glaze and then mix stains into the glaze and test - usually 20% or stain per 100 grams of liquid glaze.

I always achieve my colours from glaze stains which I buy from a supplier in Australia but the good ones comes from Germany and they are called inclusion pigments the rich yellows/red oranges etc. I know most of these stains are available in the States and the UK.

When you buy stains look at the colours and if they are rich in colour then purchase those. I make a good base glaze slightly off white and I add Frit 4134 or an Alkaline Frit or they sometimes call it Ferro Frits to the glaze to flux it down to the temperature I need to fire to. I usually fire around Cone Orton 4/5 nodding.

Depending on what result you want matt/satin matt/shiny you add the Frit. To make the colours I usually add about 100 grams to 1 litre of liquid glaze, (sieve through 150 mess)this should give you a visual strong colour its important to put this through a 150 mess sieve for good results so the colour and glaze are well mixed.

The other tip is once you have made something and bisque then using fine sandpaper (not coarse) to prepare the work before glazing and finally use a clean fine sponge to wipe over you piece before glazing whether you are dipping or spraying. Remember I constantly mix stains together to develop different hues.