The process of glazing makes ceramics a unique experience. When fired, the glaze goes through a chemical change, turning into glass on the surface. Glaze is not like paint because once it is fired, the color looks different than when it was wet. Glaze also becomes fused to the surface. I feel it's important for my students to learn how to glaze their ceramic artworks because it's an essential step when working with clay. Glazing creates a sense of closure to the process. I want my students to have a variety of colors to choose from, as well as be able to create their own colors by mixing the glazes.
One of the challenges of glazing is deciding which colors are appropriate for three-dimensional forms, which means students must think like designers and envision how they want their sculpture to appear.
Students must also trust the process of glazing, since it takes time to fire everything in the kiln.
These types of glazes can be mixed, also helping students learn about color theory and how colors interact visually when applied to three-dimensional forms (versus painting on a flat surface). Color involves light and optics, and as part of science, we can see how colors are affected by placement, such as complementary colors, analogous colors, and warm/cool colors. With this type of glaze, students can alter the value of colors, achieving a wider range of colors.
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