Getting to grips with glaze testing – an important part of any ceramic artists skillset

When it comes to pottery and ceramic art the glaze can be a make or break moment for many pieces. An item you’ve been working on for several weeks can go into the glaze process looking fit for a plinth at the Tate Modern and come out looking more suited for the bin!

So an important part of any ceramic artist’s arsenal of skills is glaze testing to ensure the temperatures and timings for a certain glaze are set exactly right so your precious pieces of pottery don’t turn into a disappointment.

One of the reasons ceramic art appeals to me so much is the vivid colours you can achieve through glazing and firing techniques both of which are varied and quite tricky to master.

From the cornucopia of colours you can achieve with the instant wow factor of Raku through to subtler washes over stoneware – the way you choose to glaze and finish your pieces can’t be underestimated – and your kiln is only as good as the practice you put into it to mastering it when it comes to testing how glazes react over different times and heat settings.

You need to be prepared to be slightly scientific – and very organised when doing glaze testing – two words which are traditionally the enemy of many a creative mindset. But don’t be afraid – much like a contestant on Bake Off you won’t always get it right first time in the technical challenge – but your next batch of glazing might turn out to be a show stopper!

As my image demonstrates above the heat was a little to high on this batch of glazing test chips. It took me three attempts with this new set of glazes to find a temperature and timing which ensured the glaze adhered properly, achieved a nice sheen or matt texture and had a pigment pay off and overall colour which I felt was appealing.

Every time you invest in a new glaze or introduce a new process to your pottery then testing beforehand is the only way to avoid gambling when it comes to glazing your larger pieces. Everyone without exception in the world of ceramic art has had a glazing disaster – part of the joy of pottery is in the unpredictability of the process and the fact that sometimes what you end up with is a little out of your control.

But by putting the testing process in place – ultimately you can avoid any majorly nasty surprises and create a starting point to work from.

If you’d like to try your hand at glazing hand-built ceramics then why not take a look at the pottery classes and ceramics workshops I have on offer here in Sheffield?

My ceramics studio is ideally placed just off Abbeydale Road in South Sheffield between Netheredge and Meersbrook, in a relaxed, professional adult learning environment. 

As well as the pottery classes I have available to book I am happy to discuss group booking for 4 or more adults and one to one tuition for those looking to develop their ceramics skills further. Just get in touch with me to find out more.