How to Apply Clear Pottery Glaze

You usually apply a clear glaze to pottery after you finish painting in order to seal in the process and make a smooth surface for the whole piece. Clear glazes aren't actually clear when applied but are colored with food coloring so that the potter can see exactly where she has applied the glaze. But never fear; when fired, the food coloring bakes out.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Clear glaze
• Toilet brush
• Drying grid

1. Stir your glaze extremely well with a toilet brush. Since toilet brushes have bristles that naturally break up bits that have clumped together, it's the best item to stir with. Make sure that the glaze is consistently colored before you move on to the next step.

2. Choose which method you're going to use to glaze your pottery. You can either dip the pottery or paint it with paint brushes. Given that this is a clear glaze application, dipping is the choice of most potters for this glaze and is most recommended because it less likely to disturb the painted glaze underneath. The following steps cover how to dip pottery.

3. Grasp your pottery piece and hold it firmly. Dip one half of the piece into the glaze. Wait a few seconds to allow the glaze to start to set, then turn it and dip the other half. If the piece is a pot or bowl, make sure to dump the excess out. It only needs to be lightly coated.

4. Lay the pottery on the drying grid until it's dry. Repeat the dipping if necessary up to three times.