Pro tip: Having my sister mix glazes with me flipped my whole approach

I thought glaze mixing had to be a precise, silent task to get good results. My sister, who loves baking, wanted to help one afternoon and brought her measuring cups. We started comparing clay colors to frosting shades, and she suggested adding a pinch of this or that like a recipe. Her relaxed way made me see that small variations can create unique finishes I never planned. Now, our glaze sessions are loud and fun, full of trial and error. My pots have more personality, with speckles and blends I wouldn't have tried alone. In my experience, letting family into the studio adds joy to the process. Your mileage may vary, but it's worth a shot if you're stuck in a rut.

2 comments

2 Comments

spencercraig5d ago

Glaze chemistry really needs that precise, silent focus in my book. Maybe it's just me, but bringing in extra people and treating it like a cake recipe sounds like a fast track to a bad batch. The whole point is repeatable results, and a "pinch of this or that" makes that impossible. I've seen too many good pieces ruined by a fun but unpredictable session.

ross.rowan5d ago

No kidding! A friend of mine let his kid add a sprinkle of copper carbonate to a standard glaze, you know, just for fun. It was supposed to be a disaster. But it came out with these wild, web-like green streaks that he now can't even reproduce on purpose (which drives him nuts, honestly). He still uses that piece as a vase because the "mistake" is the best part. Sometimes the happy accidents really stick with you.