Foundations of Glaze Making
We are delighted to welcome Elena from Glost Glaze in London to our studio. In this intensive 3-day glaze workshop, you will learn the art and science of ceramic glazes and mix your first glazes. The workshop is ideal for beginners and anyone who wants to deepen their knowledge and experiment on their own.
What to expect
In three days, she will teach you the basics of glaze production in a practical and understandable way:
- Understanding glaze chemistry: How glazes are created and which materials are used
- Develop your own glazes: Designing, testing and optimizing your own mixtures
- Practical exercises & demonstrations: Direct insight into production and application
Each workshop day lasts from 11:00 to 16:00, including a 30-minute lunch break.
Day 1 – Glaze basics and material behaviour
You will learn the key principles behind glaze making, including how water content, application methods, and your clay body can affect the final result. We will then create single-material fusion tests to observe how individual raw materials melt, react, and behave in the kiln.
Day 2 – Glaze development & biaxial tests
After evaluating the fired test tiles, you will work in teams of two on a biaxial glaze mixture made from basic materials such as quartz, feldspar, china clay and frit – the basis for your own glaze.
Day 3 – Variations and colour development
On the final day, we will evaluate the results and scale up a larger batch of a base glaze and create a wide pallet of colors. You will experiment with metal oxides, stains, opacifiers, and other additives to explore a wide range of colour and surface variations, while learning how to keep your testing consistent and repeatable.
Who is this workshop suitable for?
This workshop is ideal for anyone who wants to:
- Understand the structure and chemistry of glazes
- Deepen their knowledge of ceramic raw materials
- Learn how to develop glaze tests that are reliable and reproducible
- Experiment with glazes independently, safely, and with confidence
No previous experience is required.
Price & registration
Duration: 3 days, daily 11:00-16:00
Price: Early Bird until 15.03. 460,- afterwards 490,-
Including: Brunch & lunch, materials for the glaze tests
Note: The workshop language is English
If the workshop is already fully booked, you are welcome to join the waiting list or sign up for the newsletter to be informed about future workshops in good time. hallo@toepferei8008.ch
About Elena Gileva
Elena Gileva is the founder of Glost Glaze in London and an international expert in ceramic glazes. She combines classical ceramic techniques with contemporary art practice and has completed her training at the Royal College of Art, London and Parsons Paris School of Art & Design, among others.
In her workshops, she teaches hands-on how to develop, test and creatively design your own glazes – ideal for beginners and experienced ceramists alike. Her work includes artistic projects, experimental glaze processes and international exhibitions, making her courses particularly inspiring and practical.
Cancellation policy: The course leader travels from abroad especially for this special workshop. This entails fixed costs for travel and accommodation at an early stage. We therefore ask for your understanding for the following regulation:
- Up to 30 days before the start of the course: refund minus CHF 30 processing fee
- 30-14 days before: 50 % of the course fee due
- Less than 14 days before: full course fee due
You may send a substitute at any time.
