Swirls of Abbots Sunflower melt into a base of Camelia to create a finish that feels like eating a bowl of rhubarb and custard. Here's how to recreate this creamy, dreamy combo.
Glaze layering system: Abbots Camelia & Abbots Sunflower
What you’ll need:
Here’s everything you’ll need for this project:
- Abbots Camelia
- Abbots Sunflower
- Abbots Universal Medium optional, but handy!
- A bisque-fired piece (bisque-fired means the clay has been through its first firing, making it porous enough to absorb glaze)
- A medium soft brush
- A sponge and water
- Banding wheel, potter’s wheel, or Lazy Susan (optional)
- Access to an electric kiln (firing to Cone 6)
Step-by-step
Step 1 ~ Apply 2 coats of Abbots Camelia
Apply Coat 1
Begin by giving your jar of Camelia a good shake.
Apply the first coat of Camelia to the entire piece, including the inside and outside.
Tip: If your brush feels like it’s dragging on the bisque, try adjusting a few spoons of Camelia with a drop or two of Universal Medium in a small bowl before applying your first coat. This should give you a little more time to blend your brushstrokes before they dry.
Allow the coat to dry before applying the next one.
Apply Coat 2
Apply the second coat of Camelia to the whole piece, ensuring you leave a 0.5cm - 1 cm margin at the foot to prevent any glaze drips sneaking their way onto your kiln shelves.
Allow the second coat to dry - this shouldn’t take long (30 seconds - 1 minute).
✨ Step 2 ~ Apply 2 coats of Abbots Sunflower
Apply Coat 1
Grab your jar of Abbots Sunflower (possibly our most cheerful glaze!) and give it a good shake before opening.
Using a loaded brush and a spinning banding wheel (if you have one), apply the first coat of Sunflower to the entire piece.
It can be helpful to work in sections or bands (pictured above) and work your way down the piece until you have an even coat of glaze.
Allow to dry before moving to the second coat.
Apply Coat 2
The final step - you are almost done!
Just as before, apply the second coat of Sunflower to the entire piece.
Allow your piece to dry before firing.
Step 3 ~ Firing
Wipe any glaze drips from the underside of your piece.
Pop in the kiln and let the magic begin!
Fire to Cone 6 (~1200C) in an electric kiln.
You can find a suggested firing schedule here.
Tip: Wipe your glaze jars before putting the lids back on. This makes opening them so much easier next time.
✨ Notes & suggestions
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For a finish that’s more custard than rhubarb, this combo is just as delicious in reverse:
1) Abbots Sunflower x 2 coats (base glaze)
2) Abbots Camelia x 2 coats (top glaze)Why not give it a whirl, too?
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About the author:
A self-confessed glaze nerd, Amy is a content creator for Abbots Glaze on a mission to get people excited about glazing! When she’s not making reels or testing new glaze recipes, you can find Amy making pots in her pottery studio, Palmerston North. You can follow Amy’s work on Instagram @fettlepotterynz
