Susan Nowogrodzki is a talented artist and wonderful teacher. She demonstrated techniques for decorating tiles using underglaze materials as well as decorating with glazes and overglazes such as lusters and mother of pearl.

Firing instructions:

All the lustres–gold, silver and mother-of-pearl–fire to cone 018.

The Pebeo overglazes and Porcelaine markers need to set for 24 hours and then can be fired in an oven at 325 degrees for 35 minutes. It’s best to place the tile in a cool oven on a baking sheet, set the heat to 325 degrees, and once it’s at that temperature, let it fire for 35 minutes. When the time is finished, turn the oven off and let the tile sit in the oven till it’s cool. Then remove the tile.

Cone 5/6 Clear Shiny Glaze

Kona F4 Feldspar (or any Soda Spar) 1328 grams
Silica 734 grams
Colemanite or Gerstley Borate 622 grams
Whiting (Calcium Carbonate) 252 grams
Zinc Oxide 84 grams
Kaolin (EPK) 252 grams

Start with some lukewarm water in a bucket. Measure and add each ingredient, stirring well in between each added dry material. Add water if necessary. Sieve at least once, maybe twice. Glaze consistency should be thinner than cream, so that you can see any underglaze design faintly through the glazed piece.