Variations are endless. You can use wax to resist between successive applications of oxide washes as well. Wax can be painted directly onto the bisque to reserve areas that will not have any glaze.

 

• First, a glaze is applied by dipping 2 seconds. After this glaze has dried to the touch, a design is painted onto this glaze with wax and allowed to dry. Next, another glaze is applied by dipping 2 seconds. The wax will resist the second glaze in the areas to which the wax has been applied. Some of the second glaze will always adhere to the wax and this is unavoidable. If you do not like this, carefully wipe away these 'beads'of glaze with your sponge or a very fine brush.

• One of the major drawbacks of this technique is the increased potential for the glaze to run because of the double application of glaze. This is why it is essential to only apply each glaze for a maximum of 2 seconds, so the overall application time does not exceed 4 seconds. If you put on more glazes than the two that are recommended, then the glaze will surely run during firing, and your piece will adhere to the kiln shelf or firing 'cookie.'

• The major advantage of the technique is the wide variety of beautiful effects possible with the combining of glazes. Recommended best bets are to begin with a dark glaze such as Temmoku, as the first glaze applied, then painting a wax design and follow by applying a light colored, or white glaze second.

•  MAKE SURE THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOM LEFT UNGLAZED AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR PIECE IN CASE THE GLAZE RUNS!

A variation on the technique is to apply a light colored glaze to a piece of bisqueware, then apply a pattern of wax onto the glaze using brushes or sponge stamps, then after the wax has dried, brush on oxide washes. The example at the right, by Warren McKenzie illustrates this process. An advantage of this variation is that the piece has only one glaze, reducing the change of glaze running during firing.