glaze chemistry Archives - Linda Bloomfield

Posted on August 22, 2023February 14, 2024 by Linda Bloomfield

Glaze workshops 2024

I will be teaching a number of ceramic glaze workshops during 2024

Set of glaze test tiles from a ceramic glaze workshop, showing a colour blend between five colouring oxides and the effects that can be achieved

I will be travelling to various studios around the UK and Europe to teach ceramic glaze workshops which expand on my books, Colour in Glazes and Special Effect Glazes. The two-day workshops are suitable for intermediate potters who would like to learn more about glaze chemistry, what each glaze material contributes to the glaze and how to adjust glazes to correct any defects or make special effects such as craters, crystals or crackle. Contact the studios directly to book a place. These courses are popular; if you find the workshop you want to attend is full, I sometimes come back to the same studio in following years so don’t give up!

These workshops cover the fundamentals of what makes up a ceramic glaze and the role played by each ingredient. Participants on the workshop will create and test their own glaze (often based on an existing recipe) during the workshop, fire the glazes overnight, and receive feedback on their results. They will leave with a better understanding of how a glaze is developed and tested and with the knowledge to enable them to create and refine glazes on their own.

27-28 January The Clay Garden, Hammersmith

24-25 February The Clay Garden, Hammersmith

9-10 March La Mine Céramiqu e Paris

23-24 March RAMP Workshop, Silverton, Devon

5-7, 12-14 April El Taller de Ceramica, Malaga

20-21 April Jilly Russell Vessel studio, Special Effect Glazes, Moretonhampstead, Devon

4-5 May Coombe Farm studios, Special Effect Glazes, Dartmouth, Devon

10-11 August London Potters at Cernamic Studios

14-15 September Mud Gang studio, London

21-22 September Muddy Fingers Pottery, Special Effect Glazes, Jarrow

26-27 October Nottingham Ceramics School

I recognise that not everyone will be able to attend one of these courses. There is a lot to be gained from being in a practical workshop with others, but if you cannot attend one of my workshops and would still like to learn about glazes, I have some short online courses available (https://lindabloomfield.co.uk/membership-account/membership-levels/) which cover some of the same content.

Posted on March 9, 2023August 22, 2023 by Linda Bloomfield

Glaze workshop dates 2023

Do you want to learn how to make your own glazes and understand what each material does in a glaze?

I will be teaching a number of glaze workshops in 2023. We will be making glaze tests in your chosen base glaze: glossy, matt, crystalline or crater, adding colouring oxides and discussing the fired results as well as learning what each material does in the glaze and how to adjust the glaze and correct defects.

21-22 January The Clay Garden Hammersmith

4-5 February Forest Row School of Ceramics East Sussex

18-19 February The Clay Garden Hammersmith

10-12 March La Mine Atelier Paris

24-25 April Studio Pottery London Victoria, London

5-7 and 12-14 May Cowork Art Centre Malaga, Spain

25-26 May Cultivator Cornwall, Camborne Contemporary Crafts hub, Cornwall

24-25 June RAMP Ceramics Silverton, Devon

12-13 August London Potters Cernamic Studios, Stoke Newington

16-17 September Nottingham Ceramics School Nottingham

9-10 October Atelier Luciana Cravo Lisbon, Portugal

11-12 October Ceramista Shop Oeiras, Portugal

Suitable for beginners, professional potters and ceramic artists. Contact the studios to book a place.

Posted on May 24, 2021July 20, 2021 by Linda Bloomfield

Glaze workshops 2021

I will be teaching some glaze workshops again in 2021. These get full very quickly so make sure you book up soon.

We will make a series of glaze tests on the first day, fire them overnight and then discuss the results the next afternoon. In the morning I will talk about glaze chemistry and what each material contributes to the glaze. I will be also be teaching at Forest Row School of Ceramics later this year.

5-6 June The Clay Loft, Stroud

22-23 July Forest Row School of Ceramics, East Sussex

25-26 September Nottingham Ceramic School, Nottingham

If you can’t get to a workshop, you can always do my online glaze course.

Posted on August 19, 2020October 26, 2020 by Linda Bloomfield

New online glaze course: How Glazes Work

Do you want to learn about glaze chemistry but don’t have the time to spend weeks on a course?

I have been working on a new online course on how to make your own glaze and what each material contributes. Learn how to add colouring oxides and combine different oxides in a colour blend. I’ve carefully constructed, edited and condensed quite a lot of content into a short glaze course. By the time you finish, you will have a good understanding of the principles of making a glaze and, knowing what each ingredient does, you will have some confidence when it comes to adjusting your glazes. You will also have gone through some key practical steps in making glazes and will have seen some ‘good practice’ which will ensure you get reliable, repeatable results.

What you will learn:

Glaze chemistry

1. The three main components of a glaze and what each material contributes to the glaze.

2. The difference between a glaze recipe and molecular formula and how it relates to glaze stability.

3. Glossy and matt glazes, adjusting glazes and correcting defects.

4. Adding colour, in the form of oxides and stains. Health and safety.

Practical session on how to make your own glaze and add colouring oxides.

Materials and preparation

You will need to make 15 test tiles, rectangular clay slabs around 6x4x0.5cm. You will need to fire the test tiles in a kiln. I prefer stoneware temperature 1250°C, cone 8, but you can use higher or lower firing temperatures and choose your own glaze base.

Who is the course for?

Beginners and intermediate potters will find this course useful, especially if you want to learn how to make your own glazes and understand what each material contributes.

Who is teaching the course?

Linda Bloomfield trained as a materials scientist and worked at Imperial College in London before having children and becoming a potter. She has written six books on glazes and tableware and teaches workshops on understanding glazes. The online course covers the same content as her weekend workshop.

How long does the course take?

The theory video takes half an hour to watch and is divided into four sections.

The practical session takes half an hour to watch and around two hours to complete the glaze tests yourself.

How much does it cost?

Special introductory offer £60

Watch my free video to get a taste of the course.

https://lindabloomfield.co.uk/free-video-1-how-to-make-a-glaze/