This workshop is an introduction to color: color in glazes is a complex subject with infinite permutations. Colorants actually change a glaze’s chemistry to a greater or lesser extent; this can change the surface texture and viscosity of a glaze and we’ll look at why that happens. I’ll break down colorant behaviors and explain the anomalies we encounter. We’ll look at all common (and a few uncommon) colorants and discuss the importance of their properties as they affect a variety of base glazes. I’ll also do an abbreviated demonstration for a coaxial color run—a great testing strategy for beginners—that blends two colorants in equal parts. This knowledge will give you the agency to control your own glazes and ultimately create a custom palette. Participants will receive handouts for several glaze testing strategies and base glaze recipes for cone 6.

Return in 2 weeks’ time to review and discuss your own test results. During this session, I will dive a little deeper and talk about the importance of application thickness and firing temperature for consistent results.