The Magic that Happens in the Kiln

Ceramics is a fickle medium. With all the variables involved in making ceramics, sometimes replicating techniques can be a challenge. I have made some items the exact same way only to be shocked at the outcome.

When I started making my latest batch of work I was afraid the vividness of the underglazes would be lost in the glaze firing. I have a long relationship with underglazes from application for Michael Kifer, to teaching low fire ceramics with an emphasis in underglaze decoration, to my own work. Here are a batch of mugs before being fired.

I had put a poll over in my Instagram stories asking people if they preferred shiny or matte finishes on pottery. To my surprise, 80% of the people polled said they preferred shiny! In my previous experience underglaze seems to fade when coated with glaze. In the spirit of going with the flow, I glazed all my image transfer pieces with clear glaze. I thought for sure that the colors would be muted and drab, but I was so wrong!

The colors are so vivid! I am glad I polled people and tried something new.