Approved Underglazes & Glazes for RCC Firings

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You are permitted to use outside (commercial) glazes, underglazes, and slips at the studio with approval. This information is all also available on the Tips for Successful Glazing

Temperature

We glaze fire to Cone 6 (not to be confused with Cone 06, which is a much lower bisque-ware temp.).
When choosing to use a commercial glaze, the first important label to look for is what temperature it works at.
Again, we fire to C/6 nor C/06.

When bringing a commercial glaze to RCC, please post glaze labels showing the temperature (Cone) on Clay Q&A or get them approved by staff in-person before using them. We highly recommend doing a small test first before using it on your art work.

Labels

READING LABELS / FOOD SAFETY
Make sure your glaze is Food Safe, and that it will do what you're hoping for! 

Safe to Use?

It's hard to approve glazes we're not personally familiar with, and generalizing based on brands or lines of glaze is also difficult. Please continue to have a staff member or teacher approve your underglaze/glaze before using. They will often offer tips for using it as well. 😊 

» ALL Glazes and underglazes take time to use successfully!

These materials are not always straightforward, and can sometimes require multiple test runs to use successfully. Even with "Great!" glazes, we recommend testing before putting on everything. 

Here's a list of materials we recommend from our favorite studio brand, Amaco. There are many other great brands and colors available from other companies, this is just one of them we like.

Do make a small test before putting on an artwork you care about! 🚀

 

Glazes may offer a range of temperatures they can be fired at, which affects their color, consistency, and surface qualities. This can also increase chances of runny glaze ("Enhanced Mobility") or glaze defects when applied thickly, like pinholing ("Surface issues"). 

Make sure you're looking at the Cone 6 glaze image and reading the provided information thoroughly before making your purchase! There are many different brands, glaze lines, ect. and it's impossible to approve a whole line, as each glaze varies. 

Recommendations:

Here are just a few we recommend considering. 
As always, have staff approve your outside materials before use. :- ) Happy glazing!

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Deborah Schwartzkopf

As a studio artist, she makes fabulous tableware that infuses life with purposeful beauty. Deb was inspired by the guidance of amazing mentors along the way. These important relationships fostered her desire to engage and build community through clay. Her adventurous spirit has taken her across the country and beyond to form a depth of experience, knowledge, and a supportive network.

In 2013 Deb established Rat City Studios in her hometown of Seattle, WA. RCS is her home and personal studio, as well as, a creative space for multiple studio members working independently. In 2022 she opened a sister studio, Rain City Clay in West Seattle. RCC is a community art center focusing on experiential learning through ceramics classes of all levels.

With over 15 years of experience, a Master’s of Fine Art at Penn State, artwork included in collections such as the Kamm Teapot Foundation, San Angelo Museum, and the WA State Arts Collection, numerous publications including Ceramic Monthly, Pottery Making Illustrated, and Studio Potter Magazine, she has been recognized and honored in her career as a maker.