Glaze 101: Understanding & Testing Cone 6 Glazes

Date: [Insert Date] | Time: [Insert Time] | Duration: 1-Day Workshop
Location: Kimball Jenkins Ceramics Studio

Glazing is more than just a finishing touch—it’s a crucial part of the ceramics process that affects durability, aesthetics, and kiln safety. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll break down the basics of glaze chemistry, explore how glazes interact at cone 6, and discuss why understanding glazing is essential for protecting both your work and studio equipment.

Workshop Schedule:

🔹 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM | Introduction to Glazes & Studio Safety

• Overview of glaze chemistry: what makes a glaze melt, fluxes, silica, and alumina

• Dipping vs brush on glazes 

• Why glaze safety matters: protecting kilns, shelves, and studio tools

• How to identify common glaze issues (crazing, pinholing, crawling, etc.)

🔹 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM | Making & Testing Glaze Tiles

• Demonstration on how to make test tiles for individual glazes & layering

• Students make their own test tiles to document results

• Discussion on the importance of keeping a glaze database

🔹 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM | Student Glaze Testing & Layering Experimentation

• Students apply their own commercial or studio glazes to test tiles

• Hands-on exploration of layering different glaze combinations

• Documenting application methods for accurate results

🔹 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM | Lunch Break

🔹 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM | Kiln Loading & Understanding the Firing Process

• Step-by-step instruction on how to properly load a kiln

• Loading test tiles together and reviewing kiln safety best practices

• Discussion on temperature curves and how they affect glaze results

🔹 2:30 PM – 3:00 PM | Q&A & Wrap-Up

• Final thoughts on glaze testing and maintaining a glaze database

• How to continue testing at home and troubleshooting glaze issues

What You’ll Gain:

✅ A foundational understanding of how glazes work chemically
✅ Hands-on experience making and testing glazes for cone 6 firings
✅ A valuable glaze reference for the studio and personal use
✅ Knowledge on kiln loading and best practices for glaze safety

This workshop is ideal for ceramic artists looking to expand their glazing knowledge and achieve more consistent, successful results in their work.