Engobes, pencils & watercolours
Engobes (underglaze colours), ceramic pencils and watercolours are for decorating. You draw and paint with them on a piece after its first firing, and unlike glazes the colours stay exactly where you put them. They always go under the glaze, never on top.
How to work with them
- Engobes: apply three to four coats with a brush for a rich colour. A single coat fades in the kiln. Do not dilute with water. Pour a small amount onto a palette and top up as you go.
- Pencils: press lightly so the colour shows. Good for lines and details.
- Watercolours: apply at least three coats.
- Colours can be mixed to create your own shades. The sample board in the studio shows how they look after firing.
What not to do
Engobes are not glaze. Do not cover the whole piece with them, it would "suffocate" and not absorb the glaze, which would then flake off. Glazes are for full coverage.
Finishing
A decorated piece is finished with transparent glaze (dip for three seconds). It adds gloss and makes the piece functional, and the colours show best under it. Under coloured glazes the decoration disappears. Applying it and cleaning the base works the same as with other glazes, see Glazes.
Not confident with the transparent glaze? We can glaze the piece for you. Leave a note by the piece or email us. This is a paid service, see self-service activities.