Glazing Basics: Choosing Colours for Your Pieces

One of the most common questions we hear at the end of a course is: how do I know what colour my piece will actually come out?

The honest answer is that glazing involves some magic. Colours look very different in the raw state than after firing. A dark brown glaze can emerge as a warm amber; a pale blue can deepen into something almost teal.

Here are a few principles we teach in our advanced sessions:

• Test tiles are your friend. Always check the studio's test tile board before committing to a glaze.
• Layering creates depth. Two thin coats of contrasting glazes can produce beautiful, complex results.
• Trust the kiln. Some of the best surprises come from letting go of control.

Come along to one of our open studio days to experiment and ask questions.