Begin your ceramic project with Foundations® as the surface. Available in gloss opaque, gloss translucent and matte finishes.
Cone 06 chips have been fired flat in oxidation on white earthenware body.
Cone 6 chips have been fired flat in oxidation on white stoneware body.
Foundations® glazes are available in a broad assortment of colors, 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 colors that produce a beautiful, smooth high gloss finish and can be intermixed for custom colors.
Foundations® Sheer – These soft translucent glazes add a tint of color 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® are easy to apply, consistent firing performance and budget-friendly.
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 color 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.
Foundations ® are AP Non-Toxic, Food Safe and Dinnerware Safe when used according to manufacturer’s directions.
These glazes are perfect companions, developed to be used together – in layering and combination. Many of the Foundations® Opaque colors were designed to coordinate with Stroke & Coat®, making glaze combinations easy to create.
Stroke & Coat® glazes applied over Foundations® Matte glazes create contrast and drama in design.
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.
Foundations® are a stable, non-moving base glaze that is perfect for majolica techniques with Stroke & Coat® glazes.
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.
Foundations® have been formulated to mature at cone 06/06. However, most Foundations® glazes will maintain their color 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.
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.
Many Foundations® Opaques can be fired to cone 6. Darker colors such as green, red, blue, orange, purple will maintain much of their original color value (they may darken a bit compared to cone 06 results). Lightly pigmented colors 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 color 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 (colors may also darken slightly). Note: Foundations® Matte will begin to generate a gloss finish at higher temperatures.
Sheers can be used to build layers of color 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 color 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.
Buy Foundations® 
Foundations® Brochure