Complete Guide to High-Fire Glazes

by John Britt

Paperback: 184 pages
Publisher: Lark Books; First Paperback Edition (2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1-60059-216-3
ISBN-13: 978-1-60059-216-4
Dimensions: 11.0" x 8.45" x 0.55"
Shipping Weight: 1.63 lbs.

Most artists have complete control of their materials to achieve the vision they want. Painters, for example, pull out all the paints from their toolbox to mix the exact shade. Ceramists, on the other hand, glaze their work and put it into the kiln, and then wait and see what comes out. In this unique and comprehensive reference, John Britt, a practicing ceramist for 20 years, takes the guesswork out of using high fire glazes. He provides hundreds of illustrated recipes with mixing, application, and firing instructions, and explains what makes glazes work.

For the clay enthusiast whose previous experience with glazes and firing has been in low-fire work, this book is a good introduction to the world of high-fire glazes. The seasoned professional will refer to the reliable recipes and procedural information in these pages for years to come.

Britt begins with a detailed examination of glaze materials and tools. Because creating a glaze is essentially a balancing act between the chemistry of the ingredients, the properties of your equipment, and the qualities you desire in the finished piece, it is vital that you understand the unique traits of the materials you're using and how they interact.

Once you have learned about oxides and other colorants that make up glazes, you can focus on the process. Britt guides you through all aspects of cone 10 glaze-making, including mixing and applying the glaze, firing procedures for both fuel and electric kilns, and the full spectrum of end results that can be achieved. He provides detailed information about performing melt tests; achieving and measuring specific gravity and glaze thickness; the benefits and drawbacks of different application and resist methods; and controlling a kiln's firing temperature and atmosphere for each type of glaze, including copper, iron, shino, and crystalline.

Recipes for hundreds of glazes, many tested by Britt himself, are shown in simple charts and accompanied by photographs of fired test tiles. Pictures of finished works by celebrated ceramists will guide and inspire you.