Begin your ceramic project with Foundations as the surface. Available in gloss opaque, gloss translucent and matte finishes.
FUNDAMENTAL AND FUNCTIONAL
Foundations glazes are available in a broad assortment of colours, opacities, and textures. Foundations glazes dry quickly, allowing immediate additional decorating and same day firing. They easily serve as the basic “foundation” glaze for any ceramic studio – be that in a school, home or your retail studio.
Foundations Opaque – Broad palette of colours that produce a beautiful, smooth high gloss finish and can be intermixed for custom colours.
Foundations Sheer – These soft translucent glazes add a tint of colour to your work, allowing surface textures or design to show through.
Foundations Matte – Fires to a beautiful, soft subdued matte finish. Matte finish will increase in glossiness if fired higher than cone 06.
FOUNDATIONS OPAQUE AND STROKE & COAT
These glazes are perfect companions, developed to be used together – in layering and combination. Many of the Foundations Opaque colours were designed to coordinate with Stroke & Coat, making glaze combinations easy to create.
FOUNDATIONS MATTE AND STROKE & COAT
Stroke & Coat glazes applied over Foundations Matte glazes create contrast and drama in design.
FOUNDATIONS SHEER WITH DESIGNER LINER AND SURFACE DESIGNS
Foundations Sheer glazes are translucent glazes that can be applied over the entire design. These glazes will not compromise the integrity of brush strokes or the intricate detail of the Designer Liner surface textures or designs.
MAJOLICA TECHNIQUE
Foundations are a stable, non-moving base glaze that is perfect for majolica techniques with Stroke & Coat glazes.
APPLY TO GREENWARE OR LEATHER-HARD CLAY
Foundations can be applied to greenware or leather-hard clay. We recommend leaving an area unglazed, such as the back or bottom to allow outgassing during the firing process. Clay should be completely dry before firing.
BROAD FIRING RANGE
Foundations have been formulated to mature at cone 06/06. However, most Foundations glazes will maintain their colour at higher temperatures, especially reds, oranges, green, blue, and purple. Their performance at cone 6 is noted on each individual product label with any changes. We recommend testing on your clay and in your kiln prior to use.
GENERAL USE
Shake for 5-6 seconds before use. Dispense glaze onto a palette (tile, plate, etc.) and apply with your brush or decorating accessory of choice (sponge, stamp, etc.).
Foundations glazes were designed to mature at a shelf cone 06/05. Apply 2-3 coats, on cone 04 bisque, allowing surface to dry in-between coats.
Foundations dries quickly and speeds up your ability to handle or perform additional decorating. Glaze fires to high-gloss finishes (excludes mattes), therefore does not need to be clear glazed.
When applying to a large surface, we recommend a broad, soft brush such as CB-604 #4 Soft Fan. Try to get the brush fully saturated (loaded) and apply each coat in the same direction to minimize brush marks.
Foundations have been formulated to mature at cone 06/05. However, most will maintain their colour at higher temperatures. Their performance at cone 6 is noted on each individual product label. We recommend testing on your clay body and in your kiln prior to use.
HELPFUL HINTS
Foundations dry quickly for same day firing.
Intermixable for custom colour creation
Can be applied to greenware or leather-hard clay. We recommend leaving an area unglazed, such as the back or bottom, to allow outgassing during the firing process.
Many Foundations can be fired to higher temperatures and still maintain their colour. Check the individual colour label for performance at cone 6.
Foundations will not dissolve or “pick up” previous coats of glaze, making them great for steadfast application.
Applying clear to matte glazes will no longer give you a matte finish.
FN-12 Lavender is formulated with chrome-tin pigments and can be sensitive to non-toxic clear glazes; a milky/cloudy haze may form over the colours. Test by adding a light application of the clear glaze to these colours. This colour will not fade when used with Mayco’s Clear One Dipping (NT-CLR).
Foundations are AP Non-Toxic, Food Safe and Dinnerware Safe when used according to manufacturer’s directions.
USAGE VARIATIONS AND FAQS
Can Foundations be applied to greenware or clay?
Mayco has tested the Foundations Opaque glazes on clay with successful results. Apply 2-3 coats of Foundations over the entire piece, leaving an area unglazed such as a back or bottom to allow for outgassing. Clay should be totally dry before firing. Fire to shelf cone 04 (1060° C). Always test on your clay body to make sure this application variance will work for you.
Mayco has tested the Foundations Matte glazes on clay with successful results. Apply 2-3 coats of Foundations over the entire piece, leaving an area unglazed such as a back or bottom to allow for outgassing. Clay should be completely dry before firing. Fire to shelf cone 04.
Can Foundations be fired to higher temperatures (cone 6 and above)?
Many Foundations Opaques can be fired to cone 6. Darker colours such as green, red, blue, orange, purple will maintain much of their original colour value (they may darken a bit compared to cone 06 results). Lightly pigmented colours such as, pink, yellow, tan, and lighter purples will fade. Always test to see if this application variance will work on your specific project. We recommend testing glaze colour fit with the cone 6 clay body you are using. Their performance at cone 6 is noted on each individual product label with any changes.
Foundations Matte glazes will begin to generate a gloss finish at higher temperatures (colours may also darken slightly). Note: Foundations Matte will begin to generate a gloss finish at higher temperatures.
What suggestions do you have for using Foundations Sheer glazes?
Sheers can be used to build layers of colour over design work, behaving much like a tinted clear glaze. When used on a detail piece, Sheers will tend to gather and pool around raised and incised areas, deepening the colour in those areas. Used as an all-over cover, Sheers can provide an elegant and rich surface on dinnerware and home décor pieces. May be applied with a damp sponge for textured effect.
