Who knew it would be fun?

For the first time in a few years, I’m teaching a class only about glaze and surface. And much to my surprise, it’s sooo fun!! I was a bit daunted by the prep required and truthfully, I’m still working on things. But to my delight, help has come. My student and spreadsheet master-Barbara-is keeping me organized and giving me the student perspective. Many thanks!!

I realize that many students find glazing stressful and confusing. So much of the vision is imaginary. The colors and finishes are not even close to what you’re seeing in the buckets of glaze. Yet, you have to hold the image of what it will become in your head and trust that the minty green you’re seeing will become a shiny, rosy pink. Of course there will be materials that aren’t glaze to try on the surface.  And then there are the many ways to apply it…

But we’re doing it and it’s been fun! Everyone has made test tiles of every kind of clay that we use. We’ve got twenty six glazes, both high fire and mid-fire, single glazes trials and combos, charts full of info, new names for old glazes and not quite enough of the good stir sticks 😉

This is the time for wild experimentation! Try everything you’ve wondered about, look at your neighbor’s pieces and see what they came up with, and try another idea. There’s no risk because they’re only test tiles!
I think the part I’m loving about this class is the understanding and feeling of control people are developing. I going to make it an exploratory class every year!