Multi-Layer Glazing: Dan’s Quick Glimpse How-To (2024)

(Creating amazing glaze effects with multiple layers of different glaze types)

1. Do not ever cross-contaminate any of the glazes during this process
   1. Always use a clean ladle or syringe to get thoroughly mixed glazes from their buckets/containers
   2. Always blow the tops of buckets off before opening them
   3. NEVER double-dip any piece
   4. NEVER dip your paintbrush directly in the glaze bottle or bucket – always use a side container
   5. If we all want amazing glazes, we all have to work together to never cross contaminate!
2. Using the Pottery Bible, choose 2-3 glazes you believe will layer well together. Be sure to think about:
   1. Food safety: if you’re using your pottery for food or beverage, use all food safe glazes
   2. Sheen: glossy glazes often look better with glossy glazes, matte with matte, etc. Sometimes you can mix ‘em up, but usually don’t
   3. Glaze Stability: if a glaze is stable, it does not run. If a glaze is unstable, it is runny. When you mix a stable and an unstable glaze together, they will be runny (albeit possibly a bit less so)
3. Always brush on your glazes when doing multiple layers. Dipping just doesn’t have the same effect. Take my word for it.
4. Brush x2-x3 coats of your base layer inside and out. Let each layer dry thoroughly before adding a new one.
5. Choose where you want your next layer to start/stop. Brush x2-x3 coats of your 2nd layer inside and out. Let each layer dry thoroughly before adding a new one.
6. If using a 3^rd layer, do the same thing.
   1. NOTE: Every additional layer will take longer to dry than the layer before it

NOTE: There is no glaze that doesn’t run at least a tiny bit. Always leave at least ¼” free from glaze at the bottom of your pot. NEVER have glaze on the bottom of your pot.

If you are using a flux or a runny glaze DO NOT apply glaze further down than the top 1” of your pot.

FOR BEST RESULTS:

• Look at what other people have done to achieve awesome glaze results and find similar property glazes to use the same way they did
• If the glaze is super thick, limit it to two coats for each glaze. Also if you’re doing 3 layers or more, limit it to two coats for each glaze
• You can use a heat gun to speed things up, but any time you can let it dry naturally, you will have better results.

Back to blog