GLAZE CHEMISTRY LAB - 1 Week Intensive - 5 Days

Duration: 5 sessions · 3 hours each
Format: Small group · Theory + Structured Lab Practice
Focus: Functional glazes · Mid-range firing (cone 5–8, emphasis on cone 6)

This five-session intensive is designed as a compact glaze laboratory for ceramists who want to understand how glaze systems function and how to control them with intention.

The course moves from the structural logic of glaze chemistry to hands-on testing, recipe manipulation, and evaluation strategies. Each session combines focused theoretical input with applied lab work, ensuring that concepts are immediately translated into material results.

No prior chemistry background is required. The Workshop is suitable to both professional and simple hobbyist potters.

Course Structure:
Session 1 — Glaze System Foundations

• Introduction to glaze chemistry as a system
• Chemical groups and their roles in glaze composition (fluxes, silica, alumina)
• Raw material sources and classification

Lab 1:
Studio equipment and safety procedures
Preparation of test bases and initial colourant testing

Session 2 — Colour and Surface Response

• Colourants and opacifiers: function and interaction
• How surface type influences colour development

Lab 2:
Testing strategies, line blends and triaxial blends on glossy and matte bases

Session 3 — Formula Logic and Temperature

• Understanding firing temperature and kiln cones
• Introduction to UMF (Unity Molecular Formula)
• Reading and using the Stull Map

Lab 3:
Develop your own glaze recipe
Modify and test existing recipes using UMF principles

Session 4 — Troubleshooting and Special Surfaces

• Common glaze flaws and defects: causes and corrections
• Decorative and special-effect glazes (e.g., crawling, lava, phase separation)

Session 5 — Consistency and Evaluation

• Achieving repeatable glaze results
• Testing strategies and documentation methods
• Critical discussion of all test outcomes
• Q&A and guidance for independent research

What Participants Gain

By the end of the intensive, participants will:

• Understand glaze composition at a structural level
• Read and adjust glaze formulas using UMF
• Design systematic testing strategies
• Develop and refine personal glaze recipes
• Diagnose and correct common glaze issues
• Approach glaze development with analytical confidence

IMPORTANT NOTES

This is NOT an online workshop. All sessions will take place in my studio in Berlin.

FOR THE LABS:

Test tiles in white/brown/black clay will be provided but you can bring your own. Only tiles made with stoneware clay that can be fired up to 1240 C will be accepted. You can bring flat tiles (2x7 cm ca), or vertical tiles. Please also provide a picture of the clay bag you used.

During the LABs is mandatory to use a FFP3 mask provided by the studio.

Fees are per person and include all materials, firings and test tiles.

By registering to the workshop you accept the Terms and conditions.