Ceramic Glaze Handbook

by Mark Burleson

Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Lark Books; Revised Edition (2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1-57990-439-4
ISBN-13: 978-1-57990-439-5
Dimensions: 11.0" x 8.6" x 0.4"
Shipping Weight: 1.35 lbs.

Move beyond a basic understanding of how to apply and fire glazes so that you can make the best choices for your ceramic work. Not only will you develop the skills necessary to make glazes an integral part of your artistic process, you'll also come to recognize their vast potential and be encouraged to experiment with new surface effects. Learn how to do everything from mixing to firing glazes. Tackle common problems with practical solutions. Try a variety of glaze recipes, including Bermuda Green Bead, Sacco Copper Black, Blue Green with White Crystals, and Amber Celadon. And as you read, enjoy a gallery of gorgeous pieces contributed by top artists in the field, displaying glazes at their best.

If you've ever wondered where to find accessible, easy-to-read information on ceramic glazes, look no further than this complete, colorfully illustrated sourcebook. It's a comprehensive reference for everything on the subject—organized and presented so that you can locate what you need to know quickly.

The glazes you choose are a large part of the identity of your ceramic pieces. Without an understanding of them and how they work, you're not taking advantage of the full creative potential of the medium. What are they and what are their firing temperatures? How can you use them to enhance clay surfaces and forms? Learn the basics of mixing, testing, applying, and firing glazes (even how to identify and solve common problems). This knowledge will enable you to consider how they contribute to the impact of your work.

At the heart of the book are the formulas provided by working ceramists. They share not only their recipes, but also insights that come from personal experience. The comments for Carlo's Stony Matte, for example, tell you that it "works well when brushed on and sanded smooth." See what each recipe looks like in a color photograph of a finished piece and a detailed, close-up shot of the clay surface.

From adding color and texture with under- and over-glazes to using resist, trailing, and other techniques to alter the appearance of your ceramics, the advice here will open up a world of new possibilities.