Glazing can be a wonderful experience.  It can also be a total disaster!!!  Over the years, I have certainly experienced both.  Even the disasters are great because I learn from them.  The accumulation of knowledge in pottery making seems to never end.

Tips that I suggest to my students:
1. KEEP A NOTEBOOK !!!!
With over 50 glazes to choose from in the Studio, after a while they all look the same :(. Take notes. 

Make a brief sketch of your piece, make note of what clay body you use, then note which glaze you added first and which one(s) you added after.  

Glaze is all about a chemical reaction that takes place inside the kiln during the course of the firing.

2. Develop your own style.
Old sayings are definitely true.  If at first you don't succeed, try it AGAIN!  Keep trying until you are happy with your results.

3. Look out for the little details.
If you are using your fingers to dip, make sure to take the time to cover any fingerprint marks.  

If you want to achieve a clean application, I recommend either dipping, brushing, or ladling.  If you use your fingers, this will result in a muddled and uneven finish.  But that is "artist choice."

Here is a video on the behind the scenes process for glazing a rather large vase in the Studio.
​

Hope you enjoy it!

​

What an exciting summer it has been at the Studio!!!  We are finally settling in to our new space.  It is so open, airy and colorful, we are really pleased with how it is coming along.  As you may know, when I first started "Big Dog Pots" I was creating pieces from my property, attending area fine art shows and donating my proceeds to 2 local animal rescue groups.  I was not able to volunteer at that time due to an illness in the family, so my donations were my way of supporting my community.

As a way to say thank you to all those who have supported Big Dog Pots since we opened in 2014 we are offering a FREE PARTY for up to 30 of your friends, family, co-workers, or whom ever else you might choose.  This will be a party where you can all come in and paint pottery mugs ON US!!!!!

In order to be considered in the ultimate drawing for the FREE PARTY the winner must meet these qualifications:

- Must volunteer or contribute to a local not for profit.
- Must be nominated by someone other than themselves or a family member.
- Must live in either Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William,  or Rappahannock counties.
- Nominator MUST LIKE Big Dog Pots Pottery Facebook Page
- Nominator MUST give a brief reason why their nominee is incredibly AWESOME and deserves this FREE PARTY.
- Nominator MUST LIKE and SHARE the corresponding post on our Facebook Page.
-All persons attending the party must be willing to be photographed for publication.

That's it!

We wanted to say THANK YOU and we hope to have a LOT of nominees.  Who are you going to nominate???  NOMINATE your special candidate below!!!!

Join us Friday nights in April for four individual TRY IT classes.  We will be creating Spring themed pieces including a framed Cherry Blossom tile, geometric square bowl, birds in a nest window hanger, and a fun white on black vintage piece.

You can sign up for one Friday night class or all the classes.  Whatever works best for your schedule. These classes are a wonderful opportunity to try out Fused Glass making.  Fused Glass classes are appropriate for artists ages 8 and up!  Don't worry about working with glass, we have safety goggles and specially made gloves to protect our students.

What is Fused Glass?
Fused Glass is similar to Stained Glass in that you will be creating finished pieces out of pieces of glass.  That is where the similarity ends.  With Fused Glass, glass pieces are created by layering glass and then fusing the layers into one solid piece in a kiln.  Once the piece is fused into a solid form it can then be slumped into a mold or shape.

It is a wonderfully creative and relaxing art form and no glass experience is necessary.

We hope you will join us Friday nights in April.

Contact the Studio with any questions, or if you would like to create a Fused Glass party or event (540) 364-2834.