Summer Glazing Techniques We Love

Glazing is more than just a finishing touch. It's what turns a plain piece of clay into a vibrant, eye-catching work of art.

And as temperatures warm up, we’re all about capturing the warmth of the summer season through our art. What better way to embrace the fun and energy of summer than with bold, radiant glazes and unique ceramic glazing techniques that stand out?

From sun-kissed yellows and ocean blue glazes to airbrushing and stamping, we’ll help you create standout pottery pieces that shine as bright as the season itself.

Choose the Perfect Summer Glaze Colors

Whether you’re inspired by golden sunsets, tropical waters, or lush greenery, your choice of glaze colors can bring those summer moments to life.

Our team recommends trying out these high-quality glazes in bright, summery colors:

Mayco Glaze SC-6 Stroke & Coat — Sunkissed: A warm, bright yellow that radiates sunshine. 

Mayco Glaze SC-31 Stroke & Coat — The Blues: Perfect blue glaze color for capturing ocean waves and clear summer skies.

Mayco Underglaze UG-223 Fundamentals — Apricot: A rich, fruity glaze color reminiscent of citrus fruits and summer sunsets.
 

Mayco Glaze FN-219 Elements — Lustre Green: A deep, refreshing green that reflects nature's summer beauty. 

Chrysanthos Glaze RG063 Raku Phoebe: This lighter, natural-looking green will make you feel like you’re exploring a beautiful garden or laying in the summer grass. 

Coyote Glaze MBG037 Copper & Iron Oasis: An eye-catching, natural blue color that reminds you of a bold, beautiful blue sky on a sunny day.

Coyote Glaze MBG021 Mottled Sunset Pink: This glaze captures the essence of summer sunsets and beautiful florals. 

Chrysanthos Glaze RG041 Raku Hyperion: This purple is perfection for all your bold summer designs, giving your pottery a unique effect.

Advanced Ceramic Glazing Techniques for Vibrant Summer Pieces

Achieving bold, lasting color in your ceramics comes down to technique. Here are some expert glazing techniques to enhance your summer pottery creations:

Layered Underglazes for Depth

Underglazes offer consistent, intense color—ideal for artists looking to experiment with sgraffito and Mishima techniques.

• Sgraffito: Carve through an underglaze layer to reveal contrasting clay beneath, creating intricate, high-contrast designs.

• Mishima: Inlay different colors into carved lines for a beautifully detailed effect.

Airbrushing for Seamless Color Transitions

If you’re creating a series of summer-inspired ceramic pieces, airbrushing is an excellent way to achieve smooth color gradients. 

Whether you’re creating summer sunsets or beachy oceanfront designs, this airbrush glazing technique is particularly effective for large batches of mugs, plates, or vases where consistency is key. The ease and repetition makes this a great pottery glazing technique for summer art shows, makers markets, and craft sales.

Wax Resist for Unique Patterns

Using wax resist in combination with vibrant glazes can create stunning effects, allowing you to design patterns that reveal the raw beauty of the clay beneath. Experiment with bold geometric shapes or organic, freeform designs for a modern summer aesthetic.

Bubble Glazing for Playful Effects

This fun and spontaneous technique involves mixing glaze with dish soap and blowing bubbles onto the ceramic surface. As the bubbles pop, they leave behind organic, web-like patterns, perfect for adding a whimsical summer touch to your work. 

If you’re teaching a pottery class or working with children during the summer months, this is the perfect glaze technique to try! 

Drip Glazing for Organic, Free-Flowing Designs

Let gravity do the work by allowing glazes to drip naturally down your pottery. This pottery glaze technique works well with multiple layers of contrasting colors to create a dynamic, fluid appearance.

Salt Firing for a Rustic Summer Look

Salt glazing produces a textured, glossy surface with unpredictable patterns. Adding sodium chloride to a high-temperature kiln creates a vapor reaction that gives your pottery a beautifully varied finish, sort of like beach-worn stones and driftwood textures.

Enhance Texture with Stamps

Adding texture to your pottery can make your summer glazes and ceramic designs even more dynamic. Clay impression stamps easily create repeatable patterns featuring summer motifs like waves, flowers, and fruit.

Simplify the Glazing Process

Fully coat the inside of your ceramic pieces with ease with our Glaze Fountain! 

Say goodbye to the tedious process of pouring glaze into a cup, swirling it around, and holding it over a bucket while it drips out. 

With a simple press of the foot pedal, you can create a pressurized, controlled fountain of glaze, streamlining the process and making your work both easier and faster all summer long. 

Showcase Your Summer-Inspired Pottery Creations

As you create brightly glazed pottery all summer long, remember to tag us on Instagram and Facebook to show off your latest creations! We can’t wait to see what you create next using these new ceramic glazing techniques. 
 

If you have questions or want to learn more about DiamondCore® Tools, we’re here to help! Leave a comment below, or reach out to our team for assistance.