Back at UCLAN and with assess to my glaze recipes I have been doing some glaze tests. My original glaze tests were carried out on textured clay forms, so decided to experiment with surface texture or lack of it to be more precise, to see how the glazes behaved. The results were disappointing (bottom left picture). The finish was very flat, no exciting breaks in the glaze which I usually look for - I do love a mottled finish in a glaze. This has definitely reinforced my desire to create texture to my form (middle right pictures).
My second test was to mix into the glaze recipe a small amount of Askam Grog slip. I mixed a ratio of 1:4 (Slip:Glaze) as I expected the slip to significantly alter the outcome. I was pleased to see that the grog melted at stoneware temperatures into the glaze finish and did not feel grainy, which was more successful than my first attempts to turn the local material into a glaze. From previous experiments I knew the slip would turn a brown colour at the higher temperatures but was hoping that some colour from the oxides/stains may remain.
The yellow stain remained true to its original finish but was flat on the smooth form (top right pictures). The copper oxide and cobalt oxide were taken over by the grog slip addition turning the glaze finish into an olive green (bottom right picture) and chocolatey colour (top left picture) respectively, again rather flat on the smooth form. All three glazes had speckles of grog mixed into the glaze finish so although melted could still be seen. The glaze hasn't come out as I would have liked. This maybe due to the lack of texture on the form as well as the high concentrate of grog addition to the recipe. Further testing required.
My initial thoughts on glaze formation have not changed, I am wanting to create natural matt glazes in shades of blue, green, grown and yellow.
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