If you are an art sculptor or have ever sculpted just one piece of pottery, odds are pretty good that you are familiar with the use of ceramic glazes.
Ceramic glazes provide that perfect finishing touch to a handmade piece of art.
Without these majolica glazes our artwork would be dull and lacking personality.
Glazes come in different finishes and colors.
When it comes to working with glazes, you should know that there are several different kinds out there for you to choose from.
For example, you could choose to work with a glaze that provides a matte finish.
These glazes would be good for any sort of sculpture you might create.
Or if you prefer shiny things, you could choose to use a ceramic glaze that has a glossy finish to it instead.
These glazes would be great used on tiles or anything that might be used to hold water inside.
One type of glaze that many people would most likely prefer working with is that of lead-free glazes.
These glazes are great when you are teaching children in grade school on through high school.
These glazes have all been evaluated by an independent toxicologist so you can rest assured that the product they are using is safe for their health.
When it comes to lead poisoning you can never be safe enough.
Make sure to follow all cautions on the glazes you use to ensure your safety.
There are also glazes that fire at different temperatures.
There are glazes that fire at relatively low temperatures; say between 1,000 and 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cone 06 glazes are generally fired at around 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cones are placed into the kiln alongside your sculpture and are used to monitor the effect of time and temperature on your artwork.
Three cones are used to measure the amount of heat being absorbed.
When your piece of work is just about finished the cones will start to soften and bend, indicating that your piece will be completed shortly.
To know if your work is almost finished, all you will have to do is look through the peephole in the side of the kiln and view the cones.
If they are bending over, you will know to keep a watchful eye on your piece of art.
When it comes to working with glazes, you should know that the sky is the limit.
With the numerous colors and finishes to work with, the options are limitless.
So get out and fire up that kiln!