Mayco’s Fundamentals® were developed by our ceramic engineer, manufactured under stringent QC standards, and tested by our staff artists for colour consistency, usability, and performance on various clay bodies and firing temperatures.
VIVID VIBRANT COLOR
Underglazes were the first product line Mayco produced in 1954 and continues to be a staple for many ceramic artists. Mayco Fundamentals® Underglazes are highly versatile – use for complete coverage or in design, apply to clay or bisque – with a broad firing range of cone 06 to cone 10. Fundamentals® Underglazes serve equally well for the student making their first pinch pot and the clay artist creating works for a gallery.
GENERAL USE
Shake well. Apply 2-3 coats to wet clay, greenware, or cone 04 bisque for use in design or solid coverage. Fundamentals® have a firing range from cone 06 to cone 10. If the form you are painting has texture, dab excess colour out of the texture, and never allow the glaze to pool in the texture. To intensify colour or for use on dinnerware, apply a clear or matte clear glaze. For use on clay or greenware, apply underglaze, allow to dry, and fire to cone 04. If desired, apply clear glaze and re-fire to cones 06-05 for earthenware and cone 5-10 for stoneware (998°C–1285°C). For use on bisque, apply to cone 04 bisque, apply clear glaze if desired and re-fire earthenware to cone 06/05 and cone 5-10 for stoneware. Generally, a clear glaze finish is applied to bring out the true colour and vividness of the product. We recommend S-2101 Clear for low-fire and SW-001 Stoneware Clear Glaze unless noted SW-004 Zinc-Free Clear for mid-range.
Fundamentals® Underglazes 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.
MATTE FINISH
Fundamentals® Underglazes will fire matte without addition of a clear glaze. To intensify colour or for use on dinnerware, apply clear or matte clear glaze. To create depth and contrast, combine the matte finish of Fundamentals® with a glossy glaze such as Stroke & Coat®.
BLENDABLE & INTERMIXABLE
Mix colours to create something new; use brushstrokes to blend colours and create shading; layer them without concern of intermixing – great for Majolica – add thin lines and details with confidence as Fundamentals® will NOT move.
APPLY TO WET CLAY
Apply Fundamentals® Underglazes directly to wet or leatherhard clay and fire to cone 04. Even on red clay, colours retain their vibrancy.
WATERCOLOR STYLE
For a more traditional and painterly approach, dilute underglazes with water to create a thinned watercolour-like glaze. Use these tints to layer for seamless blending.
PAINTERLY PROPERTIES
Much like using oil or watercolour, Fundamentals® Underglazes can be used to create a life-like portrait or landscape,. Use rendering, shading, blending and other painting techniques to add dimension and a sense of realism to your work.
GLAZE SGRAFITTO
”To scratch” in Italian, sgraffito is produced by applying layers of Fundamentals® and carving through the glaze to create depth and add contrast to your designs. An impactful and dramatic way to use Fundamentals® on your ceramics or clay surface.
ALL OVER COVERAGE OR IN DESIGN
Fundamentals® can be used for delicate designs or all over coverage. Create variation by leaving some areas matte and others glossy with clear glaze.
CO-FIRE WITH CLEAR
Fundamentals® can be co-fired with clear glaze in a single firing. This time-saver can be valuable for those in a classroom setting. Out-gassing can trap bubbles or create craters – adding a 15 minute hold will fix most surface issues.
HELPFUL HINTS
- Fundamentals® Underglazes can be used directly from the jar, but it is recommended to put onto a tile to avoid possible contamination of the remaining product in the jar. Make sure the consistency is like melted ice cream.
- Apply to greenware, clay or bisque. Lightly dampening the ware with a moistened sponge before painting allows better adhesion to the ware.
- Dip a dampened, blotted brush into the colour. Fully load the brush without dragging the brush on the side of the tile. Apply the colour in a flowing motion; if it starts to drag, reload the brush. The clay will absorb the moisture from the colour, so care has to be used when applying.
- As you flow the colour on, avoid ridges and runs. Brush these flaws out as you apply the colour. On an embossed piece do not allow excess colour to build up. Dab the excess out of the crevices with the tip of the brush as you apply Fundamentals™ Underglazes.
- Apply the first coat. When the dark wet look has disappeared, apply the second coat at a right angle to the first. The third is then applied at a right angle to the second coat. This will assure better coverage. Fundamentals® Underglazes can also be applied by sponging and spattering.
- If cone 06 does not develop the colour you want – go hotter. We recommend cone 03 – 04. Fundamentals® can take the extra heat work – push them to get the vibrancy you need.
- Mix AC-310 Silkscreen Medium with any Fundamentals® Underglaze colour to screenprint quickly and easily, creating fine details with your favorite Silkscreen from Mayco.
- If applying to greenware or clay: paint design on the ware, fire to cone 04 and then apply a transparent glaze and fire to cone 06 (two firings). If done this way, Fundamentals® Underglazes colour will be lighter. If applying to bisque allow the Fundamentals™ Underglazes to dry and apply clear glaze and fire to cone 05.
- Opaque Fundamentals® Underglazes are not true colour out of the jar. Firing is required to mature their colour.
What advice to do have for firing Fundamentals® at higher temperatures?
Many Fundamentals® Underglazes perform well at mid-range (cone 5/6) and higher temperatures (cone 9/10).
We recommend testing at your preferred firing temperature prior to use. Cone 6 performance is noted on each colour’s label. Apply 2-3 even coats of Fundamentals® Underglazes to bisque. If the form you are painting has texture, dab excess colour out of texture, and never allow the glaze to pool in the texture. Once the glaze is completely dry, paint 2-3 even coats of clear glaze over top. Once the clear glaze is completely dry, fire to cone 5/6.
Zinc Free Clear is a specialty clear glaze designed for use on glaze containing chrome-based pigments. Most of Mayco Fundamentals and Designer Liners will look best using Mayco’s SW-001 Stoneware Clear over them, however for Fundamentals Underglazes UG-21 Leaf Green, UG-22 Spring Green, UG-34 Chestnut Brown, UG-198 Dark Grey, and SG-405 Designer Liner Green, we recommend using Zinc-Free Clear to maintain colour. It ensures that you will get brilliant smooth and crystal clear surfaces over these colours.
How can Fundamentals® Underglazes be used in Raku firing?
Fundamentals® Underglazes can be used to put a background colour down before burnishing and applying horsehair or feathers in a raku firing.
What is meant by “polishing” Fundamentals® Underglazes?
While opaque Fundamentals® Underglazes can be applied to ware in many ways from brushing to sponging, there is an interesting technique that has survived the tests of time. One of the most striking looks can be achieved by polishing the surface of the colour to produce a soft sheen, and then leaving it unglazed.
The finished surface resembles earthenware. This technique cannot be obtained by any other method and is unique to opaque Fundamentals™ Underglazes. The beautiful surface is achieved by buffing the opaque Fundamentals® Underglazes while it is still damp. While the surface is somewhat sealed, it will not be waterproof. This technique is only used on decorative items and is not suitable for surfaces that come into contact with food or drink. This technique creates a great background for spot glazing using a gloss or matte glaze. A smooth surfaced piece works best for polishing Underglazes rather than an embossed piece.
Care must be taken to avoid removing the colour from sharp angles and rims. It is easy to scratch the ware accidentally with your fingernails, etc. Be careful when applying the colour as any ridges or build up of colour will affect the end result. Use a silk sponge to apply the colour to eliminate some of these problems and to give a different look. Some colours polish better than others.
Apply three coats of Fundamentals® Underglazes with a brush, in the usual manner, to assure all over coverage. Apply the colours very evenly and smoothly. Do not allow prolonged drying time between the coats. Thin the same colour with water in equal proportions, mix well. Using a ball of soft facial tissue or soft T-shirt material, apply the thinned mixture to a small area about the size of the palm of your hand. When the shiny wet look disappears and the colour will not stick to the pad, polish that area briskly. The pressure should be light and the movement fast. It is the friction from the polishing that develops the sheen.
Continue to apply the diluted colour mixture to a small area at a time, each one slightly overlapping the previous one, until the entire piece has been polished. Now buff the entire surface again, without wetting, until a high sheen has developed. If the colour looks blotchy, this will disappear as the piece dries. If you wish to add a design using other opaque Fundamentals® Underglazes, be careful not to mar the surface. Use a soft cloth to hold the piece to protect it from body oils and moisture. Wait until the piece has thoroughly dried before tracing the design so the pressure of the transferring does not mar the surface.
How do Fundamentals Underglazes perform with additional products and techniques?
Fundamentals® Underglazes work great in a wide variety of applications and techniques. Such as greenware, bisque, with and without clear glaze, over other glazes, with silkscreens, graffito, and mishima.
The glazes may also be watered down to create a water colour look or used for bold mass tones of colour. Mix colours together to create a pallet for painting and they work well for highly detailed work as well as more loose design work.
