ARTIST'S SECRETS :

One-Stroke Underglazes and Specialty Underglazes : Since glazes are the final, usually glossy and permanent coating on my hand-painted tiles, they run together too easily to produce the fine detail and stark realism that I prefer in my tile work. So in order to achieve this detail, I must do a firing in underglaze. These are not true glazes, as they do not flow and blend together during firing like glazes do. They are a mixture of clay and pigment which stains the tile as opposed to glaze which becomes the glass coating in the final firing. They are handled differently than glazes, which must go on three or more times to achieve the brilliant color desired.

Underglazes handle much like watercolor, one stroke in line or wash is sufficient, and looks much like it will appear after firing. I prefer to do my underglaze work on greenware (unfired clay) because I think the brush flows more smoothly and subtly, but they work just as predictably on bisque (fired clay). Also different from glaze is its appearance, you can tell what color it is even in the jar!

Glazes can be VERY different, so much so that it can become confusing to have more than one or two jars open at a time. Many unhappy surprises can occur! The only disadvantage I have found using underglaze is the subdued colors, so I only use them for lines and shadows underneath true glazes. Although they are perfectly suitable on their own with a protective clear glaze over them as a final firing, for most of my work I choose the brighter colors of low-fire glazes.

Specialty underglazes are so called because they have some of the properties of both underglaze and glaze, to achieve some of the affects of both. Specialty underglazes are usually the bright reds and greens, which, if used in regular glaze, flow and blend the MOST. So when you absolutely must have NO running in your reds and greens, choose the specialties. They are like underglazes in that they do not flow, but they are like the glazes in that they must be applied three or more times, a small price to pay for their predictability. Like glazes, they must be applied on bisque, and like underglazes they must have a clear glaze applied over them in order to keep their color.

Disadvantages are a very limited choice of colors and the absolute necessity of a clear glaze over them IN THE SAME FIRING, as opposed to the regular underglazes which may be coated with clear in any firing stage.

Advantages certainly outweigh the disadvantages, in my opinion, because red and some green glaze has to be applied so thickly for predictable results, that there is a very small margin of safety against running when you have a small area that must be bright red.

Return to Hand-Painted Tiles: Dy Witt Main Menu