cheesytomato Posted July 26, 2015 Report Share Posted July 26, 2015 I am on a residency in Japan and a lovely artist here gave me a catalogue for ordering supplies. I ordered what I assumed to be underglaze, but since it came in powdered form, I asked the artist whether I can buy 'frit' to add to it (as maybe it is really a stain ?) but she says she usually mixes the powder with 'steeped green tea'. I mixed the underglaze powder and green tea with mortar and pestle and applied it on my greenware using a spatter brush (really fine spatters, light layers). It dried quickly, but like my previous experience with stains, it comes off or smudges with even the most gentle touch. I read somewhere that I can perhaps seal it off with an artist fixative to prevent smudging before a firing, but am afraid that it won't burn out completely in the bisque firing. Any body have experience with 'fixing' stains / powdered underglazes with an artist fixative ? I have a feeling it might come off even after the first firing anyway but since it's already on my wares, I want to safely transport (without smudging) them to the kiln and give it a try. Thanks ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted July 26, 2015 Report Share Posted July 26, 2015 cheap hair spray works to fix majolica glaze before brushing on the overgrazes. Also adding liquid starch to the glaze can fix the powdery majolica.Those should work for your underglazes. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Beller Diesel Posted July 26, 2015 Report Share Posted July 26, 2015 I use spray laundry starch for transporting glazed wares sometime, but cheap hairspray will also work. It fires off fully, even at bisque temps, so not to worry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavy Fire Studios Posted July 26, 2015 Report Share Posted July 26, 2015 I mix my powder with gerstley borate in varying ratios, depending on how refractory the stain is. :3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rakukuku Posted July 26, 2015 Report Share Posted July 26, 2015 yep, the spray starch works but i have only used it over stains applied to bisque ware. rakuku Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rae Reich Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 I am on a residency in Japan and a lovely artist here gave me a catalogue for ordering supplies. I ordered what I assumed to be underglaze, but since it came in powdered form, I asked the artist whether I can buy 'frit' to add to it (as maybe it is really a stain ?) but she says she usually mixes the powder with 'steeped green tea'. I mixed the underglaze powder and green tea with mortar and pestle and applied it on my greenware using a spatter brush (really fine spatters, light layers). It dried quickly, but like my previous experience with stains, it comes off or smudges with even the most gentle touch. I read somewhere that I can perhaps seal it off with an artist fixative to prevent smudging before a firing, but am afraid that it won't burn out completely in the bisque firing. Any body have experience with 'fixing' stains / powdered underglazes with an artist fixative ? I have a feeling it might come off even after the first firing anyway but since it's already on my wares, I want to safely transport (without smudging) them to the kiln and give it a try. Thanks ! These fixative fixes will work! However I think you may have misunderstood the advice of mixing the underglaze/stain with steeped green tea. I believe that would mean: steep your green tea powder in hot water, as in - make tea. Use the tea as the liquid to make the underglaze/stain brushable. Although I have not tried it, this might also have fixative qualities, maybe John Baymore would know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheesytomato Posted July 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2015 Thanks everyone ! I sprayed the fixative on wares, the smudging already stopped quite a bit. Hopefully the stain will stay on the piece and not dust off after the firing. : > Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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