The Glaze Chemistry for Beginners course, taught by Lucia Ocejo, will take place on Saturday, April 5, and Sunday, April 6, from 11:00 to 17:00. This two-day introductory course delves into the essential principles of glaze chemistry, offering both technical insights and hands-on experience with glaze mixing.

On Saturday, the class begins with lab sessions. The morning will start by introducing a substitution test that will show the unique characteristics of the raw materials that make up glazes, while the afternoon session focuses on the flux capacity and techniques to manipulate glaze reactions. The tests from these labs will be fired overnight. On Sunday, while the kiln cools, we’ll conduct a two-part, two-hour PowerPoint lecture covering the technical properties of raw materials, including how glazes melt at different temperatures, color manipulation in glaze chemistry, and creating various glaze effects.

This course is designed for beginners, so no prior knowledge is needed. Students will explore both the technical aspects of glaze chemistry and the practical steps involved in glaze mixing. Test tiles and raw materials will be provided by the studio, and each participant will be able to keep a selection of their test tiles at the end of the course. Each student is required to bring their own respirator or dust mask; without one, participation in lab activities will not be permitted due to health and safety concerns, as raw glaze materials are in powdered form and can be hazardous if inhaled.

Classes will be held at Crown Works Pottery, located at 11 Crown Works, Temple Street, London, E26QQ, with a maximum of 8 participants. Please ensure you can attend both dates, as rescheduling or makeup sessions are not available; this is outlined in our terms and conditions, so we ask that you review them before booking. Upon booking, you will receive a confirmation email indicating that further details will follow closer to the course start date, typically about a week in advance.