Glaze Chemistry Lab:Understanding Glazes
Glaze chemistry for intentional ceramic surfaces. The workshop is held in English.
Description
Most ceramicists glaze by intuition — adjusting, relying on recipes found online, and hoping for consistent results. This four-day intensive offers different approach: understanding the chemistry behind the surface, so every decision becomes intentional. Designed for ceramists with little or no background in glaze formulation, from raw materials and oxide chemistry to systematic testing and recipe development. By the final day, participants leave with practical tools, a tested recipe, and the ability to read and adapt glaze formulas independently Learning Outcomes By the end of the workshop, participants will: Know the key raw materials in glaze chemistry and the role each plays Read and interpret glaze formulas using Unity Molecular Formula Plan and execute structured glaze tests with clear documentation Adjust an existing recipe or build a new one from scratch Use Glazy and other reference resources confidently Topics Covered Raw materials: silica, alumina, fluxes, and their sources How glaze formulas work — recipe logic and chemical structure Systematic testing: line blends, triaxial blends, and colorant behaviour UMF and the Stull chart for predicting surface and texture Colorants, opacifiers, glaze defects, and creative corrections Special effects: phase separation, crawling, lava, and crater glazes Schedule 12/11 & 13/11 17.00–21.00 14/11 & 15/11 11.00–15.00 Day 1 — Glaze fundamentals, raw material families, and flux roles / Lab: First tests and colourant response across different bases Day 2 — Colorants and opacifiers in depth / Lab: Line blends and triaxial blends Day 3 — UMF, Stull chart, cones, and temperature / Lab: Building and adjusting a recipe using UMF Day 4 — Glaze defects and special effects / Wrap-up: Results review, discussion, and next steps Technical Notes Glazes are formulated for mid-range electric kiln firing (cone 6–7,~ 1220–1240°C) but applicable to any temp. All raw materials, test tiles, and firings are included Participants may bring their own test tiles (stoneware to ~1240°C, approx. 2 × 7 cm) — please share clay body details in advance FFP3 dust masks are required during lab sessions and will be provided Instructor Riccardo is the founder of Blayse Ceramic Studio in Berlin, where his practice focuses on glaze chemistry and material research. His teaching combines hands-on practice with research, helping makers build real understanding rather than memorising recipes, so they can work confidently in any studio context
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Q&A and cancellation policy:
Our cancellation policy for Ceramic Courses & others: Full refund if cancelled at least 14 days in advance. For cancellations after this period, we may offer you the opportunity to join another class or course if we have available slots. Please note that cancellations made less than 7 days before the Course are non-refundable and cannot be rescheduled. You may transfer the Course to another person if you can't make it. Our studio is for adults. We allow children aged 14 and over to be accompanied by an adult, but both would need to book a place separately (except for Kids Clay Day where the recommended age of the participants is in the class description and depends on the class). We kindly ask you not to bring anyone who is not participating in the class or course, as our studio does not have enough space for comfortable waiting. How to prepare for the class: Consider wearing clothes you don't mind getting a bit dirty. We'll provide an apron and all necessary materials for each participant. Gift Card: If you're interested in gifting this workshop, check out our Gift Voucher options. Our workshops occur monthly, allowing flexibility for scheduling. Perfect for birthdays or special surprises. Please note: Ceramics is a handmade process, and while we experience minimal issues in our studio, occasional imperfections can occur during production. If something happens to your work, don’t worry – we’ll always find a solution to remake or fix it together. We will store your work for up to 2 months after Ceramic Basic Course. After that, it will either be recycled or passed on to a new home. Thank you Your ceramic studio Kamishovka Ceramics