I’m often asked how I achieve the surface decoration on my work.

Common practice is to biscuit fire pots before applying a glaze to seal and adorn the surface, but it’s also possible to fire work just once, a process, naturally enough, called single, or raw firing. The ‘raw’ glaze is applied to the unfired clay pieces (called greenware). It offers advantages, opportunities and also risks!

I find that being able to move onto decorating a piece while it’s still damp and new is more appealing than interrupting creative flow with a biscuit firing. To finish a piece and fire just once keeps the process, and results, fresh and immediate. On the other hand, errors can be costly, so it pays to be alert to the pitfalls.

Raw glazes are formulated to shrink sympathetically with the greenware through drying and firing, so usually have a higher clay content than standard glazes intended for bisque ware. They have a lot in common with decorating slip.

It follows that many familiar slip decorating processes (inlay, sgraffito, paper resist) are suitable for applying raw glaze to greenware in a decorative way too. The techniques can be used in combination, and the melting ‘fluxed’ quality of a raw glaze can make possible both complex and subtle results. 

In this workshop I will share some of the techniques I’ve developed in my own work, applicable to both my studio raw glazes and standard slips, which are readily available commercially. We’ll discuss the advantages and risks of raw firing, and the recipes of the glazes used during the workshop will be shared with participants.

After demonstrations showing the use of both standard slips and the ‘black’ raw glaze I use myself, participants will be provided with leatherhard tiles to experiment on during the morning, and a small supply of thrown pieces to decorate in the afternoon. If desired, students can bring a small number of their own raw pieces with them to decorate if time allows. 

At the end of the day work can be left for firing (firing fees then apply) and advice will be given for work taken away to be fired in potters’ own studios or elsewhere. (Work can still be bisque fired in the usual way and subsequently finished in a standard glaze firing. The ‘black’ glaze has a wide firing range. )

Course fee: £165; includes materials but not firing. Drinks and light refreshments are included, but not lunch. Pop out to one of the many local cafes or shops, or bring lunch with you. For more details, and to book (deposit required) contact me here