Creating a Fun Design with Underglazes
Water etching on ceramics is a technique that creates a slightly raised surface resulting in a tactile texture that often gives a piece of pottery additional interest. Adding underglazes as part of that process with a design can give the final result even more depth and appeal – not only in the tactile feel, but visually, as well.
In this video I take you through the steps to create a fun design using underglazes and the water etching technique.
Supplies you’ll need:
- a bone dry piece of pottery
- a palette of underglaze colors
- 2-3 underglaze brushes, both flat and round tipped
- 1-2 brushes for wax resist
- number 2 pencil
- wax resist (some folks prefer shellac)
- 1-2 small sponges (1 textured, 1 smooth)
- small dishpan
- water
The design I created in this video is called Zig Zag. The technique itself can be used to decorate many other kinds of ceramic wares – mugs, bowls, small dishes, vases, flower pots, etc. It’s a great opportunity to just have fun and play with colors and design!