Recreate this dynamic, dappled blue finish using just two glazes: Abbots Sage and Abbots Cobalt Blue.
Glaze layering system: Abbots Sage, Abbots Cobalt Blue
What you’ll need:
Here’s everything you’ll need for this project:
- Abbots Sage
- Abbots Cobalt Blue
- Abbots Universal Medium optional, but handy!
- A bisque-fired piece (bisque-fired means the clay has been through its first firing, making it porous enough to absorb glaze)
- A soft brush
- Banding wheel, potter’s wheel, or lazy susan (optional)
- Access to an electric kiln (firing to Cone 6)
Step-by-step
Step 1 ~ Base glaze: Apply 2 coats of Abbots Sage
Apply Coat 1
Before you open your jar of Sage, give it a really good shake!
Grab your brush and get started by applying the first coat.
Apply glaze to both the inside and outside of the pot, working your way down until you have an even coverage (it shouldn’t be patchy).
Allow time for the coat to dry before applying the next one. This should be less than a minute for your first coat.
Bonus tip: if your bisque is rather absorbent (aka ‘hungry bisque’), try adjusting a small amount of glaze with a few drops of Abbots Universal Medium in a small bowl. You typically only need to do this for the first coat. The second can be applied at full strength.
Apply Coat 2
Just as before, apply the second coat of Sage to the inside and outside of the pot.
If you’re using a banding wheel, challenge yourself to support the hand holding a brush with your other hand while the wheel spins - this can really help your hands remain steady!
Allow the coat to dry. Again, this should be fairly quick (~30 seconds).
✨ Step 2 ~ Middle glaze: Apply 2 coats of Abbots Cobalt Blue
Apply Coat 1
Before you crack open your jar of Cobalt Blue (our top glaze), give it a good shake. Don’t skip this step - it’s super important!
Apply the first coat of Cobalt Blue to the inside and outside of the pot, just like you did for the base glaze.
Allow to dry before moving to the second coat. Drying times may start to take a little longer at this point, but don’t panic! This is totally normal.
You’re doing wonderfully!
Apply Coat 2
Once the first coat has dried, apply the second coat of Cobalt Blue.
And we are done with glazing! Go you!
Allow your piece to dry.
Step 3 ~ Firing
Wipe any glaze drips from the underside of your piece before firing.
Fire to Cone 6 (~1200C) in an electric kiln.
You can find a suggested firing schedule here.
✨ Notes & suggestions
For a more dramatic dapple, try using Cobalt Blue x 3 coats (top glaze) instead of 3. Another idea is to apply Cobalt Blue more thickly in some areas than others to achieve more variation. Switching up the order (Sage over Cobalt Blue) will also uncover different variations. The possibilities are endless - have fun experimenting!
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About the author:
A self-confessed glaze nerd, Amy is a content creator for Abbots Glaze on a mission to get people excited about glazing! When she’s not making reels or testing new glaze recipes, you can find Amy making pots in her pottery studio, Palmerston North. You can follow Amy’s work on Instagram @fettlepotterynz