Visiting Artist Series: Glaze Chemistry 2-Day Workshop

Description

Day 1: Mixing Lab with Schaghticoke Slip
Join us for an immersive hands-on experience where you’ll delve into the foundational steps of glaze mixing in your own studio. Under the expert guidance of visiting artist Ryan Rakhshan, we’ll collectively mix a total of 25 test tiles using Schaghticoke slip, to be fired at the art center before Saturday. This session emphasizes practical learning, with a focus on a two-variable grid approach where most oxides are held constant, allowing us to explore the effects of varying two specific oxides. By the end of the day, you’ll have a solid understanding of the initial process of creating glazes.

Day 2: Understanding Glazes – Unity Molecular Formula and Stull Map
On the second day, we will review the test tiles created on Day 1, using them as a basis to gain a fundamental understanding of glaze chemistry. We’ll dive into the Unity Molecular Formula and the Stull Map to differentiate between materials and oxides, and uncover the basic building blocks of all glazes. Ryan will guide you through the process of combining these building blocks to create chemically stable glazes that melt at appropriate temperatures. Additionally, we’ll explore what made Albany slip so unique from a chemical perspective and see how our test tiles from Day 1 fit into the broader landscape of glaze chemistry.

This 2-day workshop offers a rare opportunity to gain a deep, practical understanding of glaze formulation, equipping you with the knowledge to create beautiful, stable glazes in your own studio. ALL MATERIALS PROVIDED. All students will be given p100 masks to safely take this course.

About Ryan Rakhshan
Ryan Rakhshan received his BA in Art History and Philosophy from Hood College in 2011. After teaching at VisArts from 2011 through 2014, he spent a year as an artist in residence at Brockway Center for Arts and Technology. Currently, Ryan teaches glaze chemistry classes and runs as many test tiles as he can, continually expanding his expertise in the field.

Follow Ryan on Instagram @PotsByRyan for more insights and updates on his ceramic journey.