Penguin Pottery Underglaze Set - 8-Color (4 oz Jars) - Cone 04 to Cone 6 Ceramics Underglaze

Penguin Pottery's glazes offer a vast array of effects to choose from, including vivid, bright, smooth, glossy, textured, satin, and matte finishes, as well as opaque, semi-opaque, semi-translucent, translucent, flowing, and non-flowing options. These low-fire glazes are the potter's choice when seeking a wide palette of colors, such as celadon, lively reds, deep greens, and bright blues, making them perfect for school projects, classrooms, studios, and potters who do not fire at high temperatures. Our mid-fire glazes offer similar ranges but also introduce interesting effects and tonality not available in low-fire glazes.

Proper mixing is crucial to ensure smooth consistency when using our glazes. Just like house paints, ceramic glazes need to be fully mixed for at least 1-2 minutes to prevent settling. Glazes can be applied either by dipping the bisque-fired piece into the glaze or by brushing it on. If you prefer dipping, we recommend using a dispersing agent like Darvan. Removing all dust from the bisque-fired piece is critical for a successful outcome, and the piece must be completely dry before glazing.

It is essential to fire the glaze to the correct cone temperature, as ceramic glazes are classified into three general groups: "low-fire," "mid-fire," and "high-fire." Over-firing can damage the piece or the kiln, while under-firing will result in unsatisfactory results.

One of the fascinating aspects of ceramics is the slight variations that can be achieved by using different clay bodies, glaze types, and firing methods. It's akin to vintage film photography – the final outcome is not known until the piece emerges from the kiln. Glazes will react differently and look different depending on factors such as the firing temperature, the clay body, the speed at which the kiln reaches the target temperature, and the amount of oxygen in the kiln's atmosphere during firing. This is what makes ceramics an art form, and we encourage you to experiment with different approaches and embrace the uncertainty – you'll have a lot of fun seeing the diverse results!

Penguin Pottery was founded and is run by potters, and we conscientiously manufacture our products in New Hampshire, USA. Our mission is to increase access to the ceramic arts while doing so in an ecologically-responsible manner, which is why we donate 1% of our sales to environmental groups working to protect our planet for future generations.

We also support our pottery community and artists through our partnership with CERF+, the leading US non-profit organization providing emergency relief funds, educational programs, advocacy, and networking opportunities to safeguard artists' livelihoods nationwide. Additionally, our Underglaze Series Variety Set allows you to test some of our favorite glazes, experiment with color combinations, and discover new techniques, all while being backed by our Lifetime Warranty.

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