Unleashing a Rainbow on Clay: Mastering Underglazes for Vibrant Pottery

The magic of pottery lies not just in shaping the clay, but also in breathing life into it with color. While commercial glazes offer a world of possibilities, there’s a unique satisfaction in crafting your own underglazes. This allows you to become an alchemist of sorts, mixing and matching pigments to create a personalized palette that reflects your artistic vision.

This article delves into the captivating world of underglazes, guiding you through their creation and application to achieve stunning, colorful pottery. We’ll explore:

1. Understanding Underglazes: Demystifying the Basics

What are underglazes?

Imagine them as vibrant watercolors for your pottery. Underglazes are essentially colored slips, a mixture of clay, pigment, and water. They are applied to bone-dry or bisque-fired pottery before the final glazing. Unlike glazes that form a glassy surface, underglazes fuse with the clay during firing, becoming an integral part of the pottery’s surface.

The Allure of Homemade Underglazes

While commercial underglazes offer convenience, crafting your own opens up a world of possibilities:

• Unique Color Palette: Experiment with different pigments and their ratios to achieve custom colors unattainable commercially.
• Cost-Effective: Mixing your own underglazes can be more economical in the long run, especially if you work with a specific color palette.
• Control Over Ingredients: You have complete control over the quality and source of your materials, allowing you to experiment with different clay bodies and pigments.

Benefits of Using Underglazes:

• Vibrant Colors: Underglazes retain their vibrancy even after glazing, adding depth and richness to your pottery.
• Versatility: They can be applied using various techniques like painting, dipping, sponging, or stamping, offering endless creative possibilities.
• Durability: Once fired, underglazes become permanent, making them suitable for functional and decorative pottery.

2. A Dive into Asa Olofsson’s World of Whimsical Pottery

Ceramic artist Asa Olofsson beautifully exemplifies the creative potential of underglazes. Her whimsical pottery, adorned with intricate patterns and vibrant hues, is a testament to her mastery of this medium.

A Peek into Her Artistic Process:

Olofsson begins by sketching her designs directly onto the pottery. She then employs a wax-resist technique to create intricate patterns, followed by slip inlaying to add texture and depth. After bisque firing, the real magic unfolds as she meticulously hand-paints her pieces using a combination of homemade underglazes, commercial stains, and even glazes mixed with oxides.

The Power of Underglazes in Her Work:

Underglazes are fundamental to Olofsson’s artistic style. They allow her to achieve the soft, watercolor-like effects that characterize her work. By layering and blending different underglazes, she creates subtle variations in color and tone, adding depth and dimension to her designs.

3. Crafting Your Own Underglaze Palette: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to embark on your underglaze adventure? Here’s a step-by-step guide to crafting your own vibrant palette, inspired by Asa Olofsson’s approach:

Gathering Your Supplies:

• Pigments: Experiment with a variety of ceramic pigments to achieve your desired color palette. You can find them at most ceramic supply stores or online retailers like Ceramic Shop or Sheffield Pottery.
• Clay: Choose a fine-grained clay like ball clay or kaolin for a smooth underglaze consistency.
• Water: Distilled water is ideal to prevent any impurities from affecting your colors.
• Measuring Tools: Accurate measurements are crucial for consistent results. Use measuring spoons, a digital scale, and graduated cylinders.
• Mixing Containers: Use dedicated containers for mixing and storing your underglazes. Glass or plastic containers with airtight lids work best.
• Safety Gear: Always wear a dust mask when handling dry pigments to avoid inhalation.

Unveiling Asa’s Underglaze Recipe:

While the exact proportions of Olofsson’s recipe remain a cherished secret, she offers valuable insights into her process. She emphasizes the importance of experimentation, encouraging aspiring potters to explore different pigment combinations and ratios to achieve their desired hues.

Here’s a basic underglaze recipe to get you started:

• 70% Clay: This forms the base of your underglaze and helps it adhere to the pottery.
• 20% Pigment: Adjust this percentage based on the intensity of color you desire.
• 10% Water: Start with this amount and adjust as needed to achieve a paintable consistency.

Tips for Mixing and Storing Your Underglazes:

• Start Small: When experimenting with new pigments or combinations, begin with small batches to avoid wastage.
• Add Water Gradually: It’s easier to add more water than to remove it. Add water slowly, mixing thoroughly until you achieve a smooth, lump-free consistency.
• Test Your Colors: Before applying your underglazes to your pottery, test them on a scrap piece of clay to ensure you’re happy with the color and application.
• Label Clearly: Clearly label each container with the pigment name, percentage used, and the date of mixing.
• Store Properly: Store your underglazes in airtight containers to prevent evaporation and moisture absorption.

4. From Canvas to Kiln: Applying Underglazes for Maximum Impact

With your underglaze palette ready, it’s time to transform your bisque-fired pottery into works of art.

Prepping Your Bisque-Fired Pottery:

• Clean Thoroughly: Ensure your pottery is free of dust, debris, or any oily residue that could hinder underglaze adhesion.
• Smooth the Surface: Lightly sand any rough edges or imperfections for a flawless finish.

Application Techniques: Unleash Your Creativity:

• Painting: Use brushes of varying sizes and shapes to achieve different effects. Experiment with brushstrokes, washes, and layering techniques.
• Dipping: Submerge your pottery in a container of underglaze for an even coat.
• Sponging: Create textured effects by dabbing underglaze onto your pottery using a sponge.
• Stamping: Use rubber stamps or found objects to imprint designs onto your pottery.

Layering and Blending for Depth and Dimension:

• Layering: Apply multiple layers of different underglaze colors to create depth and complexity. Allow each layer to dry completely before applying the next.
• Blending: While wet, underglazes can be blended together to create gradients and subtle color transitions.

5. Enhancing Color with Glazes: A Symphony of Textures and Effects

The final step in this creative journey involves applying glazes over your underglaze decorations. This is where the magic truly comes alive, as glazes interact with underglazes to create stunning visual effects.

Choosing the Right Glazes for Your Underglazes:

• Transparent Glazes: These allow the underglaze colors to shine through, adding depth and richness.
• Semi-Opaque Glazes: These partially obscure the underglaze, creating a muted, layered effect.
• Glossy Glazes: These enhance the vibrancy of underglaze colors and create a reflective surface.
• Matte Glazes: These offer a soft, velvety finish that can complement certain underglaze colors.

Creating Stunning Visual Effects with Glaze Interactions:

• Running Glazes: Some glazes are formulated to flow during firing, creating interesting patterns and textures when applied over underglazes.
• Breaking Glazes: These glazes crackle during cooling, revealing glimpses of the underglaze beneath and adding a rustic charm.
• Crystal Glazes: These develop unique crystalline formations during firing, adding a touch of elegance and sophistication.

Achieving a Professional Finish:

• Apply Glazes Evenly: Use a consistent application technique to ensure a uniform glaze coating.
• Clean the Foot: Remove any glaze drips or runs from the bottom of your pottery before firing.
• Fire to the Correct Temperature: Follow the recommended firing schedule for both your underglazes and glazes to achieve optimal results.

6. Troubleshooting Tips: Conquering Common Underglaze Challenges

Even with the best intentions, things can sometimes go awry during the firing process. Here are some common underglaze challenges and how to troubleshoot them:

Blistering and Pinholing:

• Cause: Trapped air bubbles in the underglaze or glaze.
• Solution: Ensure your underglazes and glazes are thoroughly mixed and free of lumps. Apply thin, even coats and allow each layer to dry completely before applying the next.

Color Shifting During Firing:

• Cause: Some pigments are more volatile than others and can change color at high temperatures.
• Solution: Test your underglazes on scrap pieces before applying them to your final pieces. Research the firing properties of different pigments and choose those that are stable at your desired firing temperature.

Applying Glazes Over Underglazes:

• Challenge: Glazes can sometimes lift or pull away from underglazes during application.
• Solution: Ensure your underglazes are completely dry before applying glazes. Use a light touch when applying glazes over underglazes and avoid overworking the surface.

7. Inspiration Awaits: Exploring the Boundless World of Underglaze Decoration

The world of underglazes is brimming with creative possibilities. From traditional folk patterns to contemporary abstract designs, the only limit is your imagination.

Resources for Further Exploration:

• Books:
  • “Mastering Glaze Over Underglaze” by John Hesselberth and Ron Roy
  • “The Complete Guide to Mid-Range Glazes: Glazing and Decorating Techniques” by John Britt
• Websites:
  • Ceramic Arts Network: A wealth of information on all things ceramics, including articles, videos, and forums.
  • Ceramic Arts Daily: Daily doses of inspiration and technical advice from leading ceramic artists.

Unleashing Your Inner Artist:

Embrace the journey of experimentation and discovery. Don’t be afraid to try new techniques, mix unconventional colors, and push the boundaries of your creativity. With each piece you create, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the captivating world of underglazes and unlock your unique artistic voice.