Expert: Leisha Hiester - 1/8/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi Leisha,

I really hope you can help. I got in a little over my head...teaching a class of kids art but straying a bit out of my area of expertise. The made masks out of low fire red clay...were beautiful and wanted to keep them more natural looking. Someone suggested we wipe them with red iron oxide, wipe most of it off so it highlights the textures, and then slap some clear glaze on top. Sounded good to me...but oh my, things went terribly wrong. I had them put 2 coats of glaze on the masks...I watched this process and thought they were putting it on pretty heavy, so didn't bother with a 3rd coat. When I picked them up the glaze had pooled to the point of nearly turning the masks a milky white, all over but especially in the recessed ares. Clearly it was applied too heavily...They look really bad. Is there anything we can do, now that they've been fired? Anything? Please help if you can. Thank you so much. -JL

ANSWER: Jill,
The Iron oxide idea is a good one, but always, always test, test, test before plunging ahead with a new idea. I've only used Iron oxide on a higher firing. It works beautifully on a cone 5-7 range or even up to 10. I suspect mixing the oxide with your glaze may have caused the milkiness.

Again, I would test with one mask and try to re-glaze, perhaps a color over the milkiness. Do you have a brown glaze that is the same cone range as your clear? Something darker will usually work, but again, test, test, test first.

Best to you. let me know how it turns out.

Leisha

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Leisha,

You are so right about testing...this was a hard way to learn that lesson, especially since it involves the artwork of others!!

I will test first on this next step but, I was wondering, would you reglaze right over the fired glaze? I was reading about something called ACT II that you would mix into the glaze to help it adhere since it's a glossy surface. Thanks in advance, I really appreciate your help and timely response!

J

Answer
Jill,
Are you talking abot Apt II ?  Here's a site to explain it's use:

http://www.sheffield-pottery.com/APT-II-PORCELAIN-STONEWARE-ENHANCER-p/aptiipse.

I haven't really tried it for the purpose you propose, but you could contact Sheffield Pottery and inquire whether they have.

Leisha