Glaze Courses

Mystified by glazing?

From beginner-friendly offerings to help you learn to apply your glazes safely and consistently, to glaze chemistry courses for those ready to start developing their own glazes.

This series of classes and workshops is carefully designed to help you untangle this most misunderstood step in the ceramics process and build your confidence mixing, applying, and firing glazes.

Ready to start developing your own glazes?

Start here.

Glaze Fundamentals Workshop (3 hrs)

This three-hour introductory glaze chemistry workshop gives you the essential knowledge and practical skills to begin developing your own glazes with confidence and care. Designed for makers who want a clear, hands-on introduction to how glazes work, the workshop combines focused discussion with practical testing so you leave with real results—and a repeatable method.

You’ll leave with:

  • A set of 16 fired test tiles showcasing your own bespoke glaze formulation

  • Simple testing and documentation protocols to help you continue developing glazes

  • Greater understanding of the basics of glaze chemistry, empowering you to plan glaze experiments and interpret results

Bring curiosity and a notebook; everything else—materials, firings and finished tiles—is provided.

    • How common glaze materials function (i.e. glass formers, fluxes etc.)

    • How oxides and mineral interact to affect colour, transparency and surface texture

    • Simple, repeatable methodologies for formulating and refining glaze recipes

    • Clear protocols for handling raw materials safely.

    • Attentive, small group tuition in a calm studio environment

    • Guided development of a glaze that reflects your aesthetic (e.g. matte, satin, gloss, phase-separated, crystalline etc.)

    • Hands-on mixing of your glaze and reparation of a series of test tiles, each documenting a variant of your base glaze

    • Clear instruction on recording measurements and test conditions for reproducible results

    • All materials, kiln firing and 16 fired test tiles included

    • Choose a date and time which works for you from the calendar below and complete your payment to confirm your booking.

    • If none of the dates/times listed suit you, get in touch and we’ll find an alternative.

  • We will be working with powdered raw materials. Some of these materials can be harmful if ingested and may cause skin or eye irritation. For your safety:

    • Wear a particulate mask to protect your lungs. An FFP2 mask will be provided. If you prefer higher protection, bring an FFP3 particulate mask or a respirator.

    • Eye protection is recommended if you are prone to splashes or dust getting near your eyes.

    • Latex gloves will be available for those who prefer hand protection. If you have a latex allergy or prefer different disposable gloves, please bring gloves suitable for your needs.

    • Avoid eating, drinking, or touching your face while handling raw materials. Wash hands thoroughly after the session.

    If you have any respiratory conditions, pregnancy concerns, or other health issues that might be affected by dust or fumes, please inform me in advance so we can make appropriate accommodations.

  • The studio is on the ground floor with one shallow step at the entrance. Unfortunately, the toilet is downstairs and not easily accessible. Please let me know in advance about mobility needs; I will be happy to do my very best to adjust the workspace to welcome you.

    If you have sensory sensitivities, please let me know ahead of time so I can minimise distractions and adapt my teaching to suit you better.

  • I offer participants flexibility to rebook their workshop for another date/time with 72 hours notice.

    In case you need to cancel, I offer a full refund for cancellations made at least 14 days before the class and 50% refund for cancellations made between 72 hours and 14 days before the class. There are no refunds for cancellations within 72 hours of the class or for no-shows.

    If I need to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances, you will be offered a full refund or a rescheduled date.

    Please feel free to contact me by phone or email to inquire about rebookings or cancellations.

Ready to refine your glazes and elevate your surface decoration skills?

You’re in the right place.

Glazing & Surface Decoration 101 - 90 minutes

Frustrated by inconsistent results and recurring glaze flaws on your finished pieces? Got a pile of bisque ware, and not sure where to begin? This beginner-friendly, 90‑minute session is a hands-on introduction to essential glaze application and surface‑decoration techniques to help you bring your vision to life with confidence and control.

What you’ll learn:

  • Core glaze application methods: dipping, pouring, and brushing—when to use each and how to get even, consistent coverage.

  • Practical troubleshooting: how to spot common application flaws (runs, pinholes, crawling) as you work and simple fixes you can apply before pieces go into the kiln.

  • Decorative techniques (if applicable): basic slips, underglaze application, sgraffito, and layering strategies to create depth and pattern.

  • Surface finishing tips: fettling drips, smoothing rims, wiping bases, and preparing pieces for a clean, professional fired result.

Course Format:

  • 60 minutes, hands‑on in the studio.

  • Small group/on-to-one to ensure individual attention.

  • Demonstrations on sample pieces followed by guided practice on your own work.

Who this is for:

  • Beginners who want a solid foundation in glaze application.

  • Potters with some throwing or handbuilding experience ready to improve their finishing and decorative work.

  • Anyone seeking practical, actionable techniques you can apply immediately to your studio practice.

By the end of the session, you will have a clear understanding of the main glaze application methods, the ability to troubleshoot common issues, and a set of decorative techniques you can integrate into future work—so your finished pieces better reflect your creative vision.

Bring your bisque ware, some inspiration pics, and the curiosity to try something new.

from €30.00
One-to-One Glaze Development Session - 2 hours

For potters who already mix and test glazes but feel stuck diagnosing issues or intentionally evolving a glaze, this one-to-one session gives you the practical glaze chemistry knowledge, focused support, and step-by-step strategies to troubleshoot and refine your glazes.

What we cover:

  • Glaze formulation: The basic glaze chemistry and tools you need to develop unique glazes attuned to your creative preferences (colour, opacity, movement, texture, and durability).

  • Testing strategies: Practical, repeatable methodologies to move your glazes forward (e.g. line blends, material substitutions, UMF mappings etc.)

  • Troubleshooting & refinement: Review of recipes, materials, clay bodies and firing schedules to diagnose the possible causes of defects and inconsistencies (e.g. crazing, crawling, pinholing, blistering, dunting, unexpected colour shifts), and development of targeted adjustments to resolve them.

  • Tools & resources: Raw materials conversion tables, glaze chemistry calculators (UMF), online tools (www.glazy.org) and other reference tools to document recipes, model changes, and adapt formulations to your studio’s workflow, materials, firing schedules and kiln profile.

How it works:

  • One-to-one session, online or in-person depending on your preference.

  • Before the session you’ll be asked to share: current recipes, photos of test tiles/ware, clay body info, lists of raw materials (with supplier names if possible), and typical firing schedule.

  • During the session we’ll review your material, create a clear test plan, model likely changes, and agree on next steps you can implement and document.

  • After the session you’ll receive a customized testing plan, ingredient substitution list, annotated recipe(s), and recommendations for further trials.

Expected outcomes:

  • Bespoke glaze development: support and guidance in the design and refinement of custom glazes tailored to your clay body, firing range, and aesthetic goals.

  • Clear understanding of the likely causes behind your glaze behaviour, allowing you to move from trial-and-error to a systematic, chemistry-informed workflow that saves time and materials.

  • Refinement of your existing recipe/s with a clear strategy for next steps, including a practical, prioritized testing plan and recipe adjustments you can implement immediately.

  • Practical troubleshooting steps, and the ability to use glaze chemistry tools to iterate and continue refining glazes independently.

  • Material substitution recommendations for replacing hard-to-find or problematic ingredients with accessible, compatible alternatives.

  • Testing protocols and next steps: a step-by-step testing plan (test tile layouts, recommended application thicknesses, firing schedule adjustments, and documentation templates) plus prioritized next actions to move from trial to repeatable results.

Expect clear, practical advice you can apply immediately, with an emphasis on reproducible results and mindful studio practice.

€120.00