Underglazes, oxides and stains are the basic building blocks when it comes to applying and layering colour on ceramics. Underglazes are made from applying a mix of clay, oxides and water as thin slips or engobes (incorporating silica) onto greenware (unfired) and bisque (bisque fired) ware. Because underglazes are true to colour, they can be applied like paint and won’t shift when they are fired, so allow us to create detailed “painterly” surface decorations. Oxides use raw materials such as metal to impart colour and movement in finishes by creating flux, in order to liquify and vitrify glazes on pottery. Stains use oxides that have already been fired to create consistent colouring effects on pottery.

In this one-day workshop we will explore underglazes, oxides and stains in detail, to understand how to create colour and surface effects on ceramics. Jane will explain some of the science behind these materials and demonstrate how to use them on their own and together, to mix colours, and create different effects.