Dynamic Color in Motion  |  Mastering the Peacock Technique

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The peacock glazing technique creates vibrant pops of color that swirl and move, resulting in dramatic effects. By combining different Stroke & Coat®, Stoneware Glazes, and Flux for mid-range, or Elements™ and Pottery Cascades™ for low-fire, artists achieve a dynamic reaction of captivating patterns with each firing.

Step 1

Apply Ws in rows using AC-222 Medium Writer Tip.

Step 2

Apply DOTS inside the W loopsusing AC-224 Plastic Detailer Cap.

Step 3

Allow to dry.
Apply a 2nd coat of Ws and DOTS

Step 4

Apply the COVER GLAZE over top. (3 coats; Allow to dry between each coat.)

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Design Tips

  • Don’t hesitate to experiment with a variety of glaze colors. Mixing and matching different hues can lead to beautiful and unexpected effects.
  • For precise application, utilize a writer bottle to apply the Stroke & Coat® dots and Flux. This tool allows you to create detailed patterns with ease.
  • Consider using dried glaze crumbles for heavier application of dots. Add a dot of glaze underneath to help the dried glaze crumbles adhere.
  • The peacock technique is best suited for vertical surfaces such as vases, mugs, or bowls. The upright orientation helps the glaze flow and interact.
  • You will achieve more dramatic effects when using flowing midrange glazes, to encourage colors to blend and swirl beautifully.
  • This technique can also be utilized at low-fire temperatures by using Elements™ and Pottery Cascades™. Be aware that some colors will move more than others.
  • Low-fire glazes can be used with Stoneware Glazes at cone 6. These glazes will move more at higher temperatures, making them ideal for this technique.

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Video

On Stoneware

On Earthenware

On Earthenware with Glaze Crumbles

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Inspiration

Ws: SW-303 Manganese Wash
Dots: SC-29 Bluegrass
Cover: SW-173 Amber Quartz
Cone 6 (1222°C/2232°F)

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-104 Grape Expectations, SC-28 Blue Isle
Cover: SW-192 Amaryllis
Cone 6 (1222°C/2232°F)

Ws: SW-303 Manganese Wash
Dots (*glaze crumbles): SC-27 Sour Apple, SC-29 Bluegrass
Cover: SW-173 Amber Quartz
Cone 6 (1222°C/2232°F)

Ws: PC-601 Clear Cascade
Dots: SC-9 Jaded
Cover: EL-101 Oyster Shell (base), EL-151 Deep Water (base)
Cone 06 (999°C/1830°F)

Ws: PC-601 Clear Cascade
Dots (*glaze crumbles): EL-106 Tidal Pool, EL-144 Dark Amethyst
Cover: EL-153 Caribbean Blue, EL-131 Turtle Shell
Cone 06 (999°C/1830°F)

Ws: PC-601 Clear Cascade
Dots: PC-601 Clear Cascade, SC-96 Aqu-ward
Cover: EL-121 Copper Adventurine (base, top), EL-140 Toasted Almond (top)
Cone 06 (999°C/1830°F)

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-29 Bluegrass, SC-32 Bluebeard
Cover: SW-176 Sandstone
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Wendy Knight Ives

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-058 501 Blues
Cover: SW-176 Sandstone and SW-169 Frosted Lemon
Fired to Cone 5.5
Submitted by Kim Wilcox-Olsen

Ws: SW-305 Cobalt Wash and SW-177 Raspberry Mist
Dots: SW-401 Light Flux
Cover: SW-176 Sandstone
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Stephen McCrorie

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-29 Blue Grass, SC-28 Blue Isle and SC-78 Lime Light
Cover: SW-176 Sandstone
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Laurie Schermer

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-87 Ruby Slippers
Cover: SW-176 Sandstone
Fired to Cone 5
Submitted by Laurie Schermer

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-12 Moody Blue
Cover: SW-176 Sandstone
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Natalie Sanders Stolzheise

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-35 Gray Hare and SC-11 Blue Yonder
Cover: SW-304 Copper Wash
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Theresa Dinella

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-33 Fruit of the Vine (top), SC-29 Blue Grass (middle), SC-87 Ruby Slippers (bottom)
Cover: SW-176 Sandstone (SW-140 Black Matte at bottom)
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Antoinette Lotriet

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-32 Bluebeard and SC-75 Orange-A-Peel
Cover: SW-176 Sandstone
Fired to Cone 5 (w/ 17 minute hold)
Submitted by Teresa Reed Heather

Ws: SW-402 Dark Flux
Dots: SC-11 Blue Yonder, SC-27 Sour Apple. SC-13 Grapel
Cover: SW-108 Green Tea
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Missy Pitts Komitor

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-13 Grapel, SC-58 501 Blues, and SC-32 Bluebeard
Cover: SW-176 Sandstone
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Missy Pitts Komitor

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-74 Hot Tamale
Cover: SW-176 Sandstone
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Amy Goularte Emrany

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-58 501 Blues
Cover: SW-176 Sandstone
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Deborah Gardner

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-10 Teal Next Time, SC-9 Jaded, and SC-96 Aqu-ward
Cover: SW-176 Sandstone
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Deborah Gardner

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-9 Jaded and SC-43 Lettuce Alone
Cover: SW-176 Sandstone
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Brenda Kelley

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-74 Hot Tamale, SC-45 Orkid, and SC-74Hot Tamale
Cover: SW-176 Sandstone
Fired to Cone 5 (w/ 11 minute hold)
Submitted by Starlynn Burnett

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-29 Bluegrass, SC-28 Blue Isle, and SC-76 Cara-bein Blue
Cover: SW-189 Cenote
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Starlynn Burnett

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-18 Rosey Posey, SC-2 Melon-Choly, and SC-13 Grapel
Cover: SW-150 Celadon Bloom
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Starlynn Barnett

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-58 501 Blues and SC-71 Purple-liscious
Cover: SW-143 Abalone
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by rebekkapitanga

Ws: SW-303 Manganese Wash and SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-28 Blue Isle and SC-11 Blue Yonder
Cover: PC-17 Honey Flux (Amaco)
Fired to Cone 5.5
Submitted by anniecannistraartist

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-28 Blue Isle, SC-29Blue Grass, and SC-13 Grapel
Cover: SW-150 Cenote
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by crazy_clayzy

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-12 Moody Blue
Cover: SW-176 Sandstone
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by helping_hands_pottery

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-13 Grapel, SC-76 Cara-bein Blue, SC-68 Apple Green, and SC-1 Pink-A-Boo
Cover: SW-166 Norse Blue (base) and PC-25 Textured Turquoise (Amaco – on top)
Fired to Cone 6 w/ 25 minute hold
Submitted by Zuni Wolf Mahooty

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-87 Ruby Slippers and SC-30 Blue Dawn
Cover: SW-176 Sandstone (base) and SW-251 Pink Opal (on top)
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Connie Hobbs Varah

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-87 Ruby Slippers and SC-10 Teal Next Time
Cover: SW-176 Sandstone
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Barb Jenko

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-29 Blue Grass
Cover: SW-252 Blue Opal and SW-176 Sandstone
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Eileen Rooney

Ws: SC-29 The Blues and SC-33 Fruit of the Vine (with band of SW-401 Light Flux underneath)
Dots: SC-37 Candy Apple Red covered with SW-401 Light Flux
Cover: SW-189 Cenote
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Anthony Geist

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-40 Blueberry Hill and SC-32 Bluebeard
Cover: SW-212 Peacock (base) and SW-176 Sandstone (on top)
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by April Moeller DeAngelo

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-76 Cara-bein Blue, SC-12 Moody Blue, and SC-245 Speckled My Blue Heaven
Cover: SW-166 Norse Blue
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Dyson Forbes

Ws: SW-402 Dark Flux
Dots: SC-87 Ruby Slippers and SC-27 Sour Apple
Cover: SW-176 Sandstone
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Aimee Kneipp-Bond

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-18 Rosey Posey, SC-28 Blue Isle, and SC-13 Grapel
Cover: SW-176 Sandstone
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Aimee Kneipp-Bond

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-29 Blue Grass and SC-28 Blue Isle
Cover: SW-121 Smoke
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Natalie Sanders Stolzheise

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-12 Moody Blue, SC-87 Ruby Slippers, and SC-50 Orange Ya Happy
Cover: SW-189 Cenote
Fired to Cone 10
Submitted by Lucy McCullough Hazlehurst

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-97 Cant-elope and SC-42 Butter Me Up
Cover: SW-129 Copper Float
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Diane Stramacchia

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-87 Ruby Slippers
Cover: SW-176 Sandstone
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Julie Bayles

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-53 Purple Haze, SC-76 Cara-bein Blue, SC-85 Orkid, SC-71 Purple-licious, and SC-Fruit of the Vine
Cover: MBG216 Amethyst (Coyote)
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Celeste Salmon Weber

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-13 Grapel and SC-53 Purple Haze
Cover: SW-176 Sandstone
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Cathy Grundmann

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-10 Teal Next Time, SC-12 Moody Blue, and SC-6 Sunkissed
Cover: SW-176 Sandstone
Fired to Cone 5.5
Submitted by Deborah Brown

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-39 Army Surplus and SC-51 Poo Bear
Cover: SW-108 Green Tea
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Celeste Salmon Weber

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-40 Blueberry Hill and SC-11 Blue Yonder
Cover: SW-189 Cenote
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Macie Higgins

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-29 Bluegrass
Cover: SW-189 Cenote
Fired to Cone 5.5
Submitted by Teresa Reed Heather

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-32 Bluebeard and SC-29 Bluegrass
Cover: SW-176 Sandstone
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Chandra Warwick

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SC-9 Jaded and SC-11 Blue Yonder, SW-303 Manganese Wash (on rim)
Cover: SW-177 Raspberry Mist and SW-176 Sandstone
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Kristine Angell

Ws: SW-303 Manganese
Dots: SC-9 Jaded and SC-28 Blue Isle, SC-87 Ruby Slippers
Cover: SW-204 Amber Topaz  (base) and SW-130 Copper Jade
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Cookie Serletic

Ws: PC-601 Clear Cascade and PC-602 White Cascade
Dots: FN-42 Teal Blue
Cover: EL-212 Spotted Walnut
Fired to Cone 06
Submitted by Sharon Giles

Ws: SC-40 Blueberry Hill and SC-12 Moody Blue (in zig zag)
Dots: SC-73 Candy Apple Red, SC-6 Sunkissed, SC-27 Sour Apple
Cover: SW-401 Light Flux (over Stroke & Coat only) and SW-166 Norse Blue
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Postcombe Pottery

Ws: SW-401 Light Flux
Dots: SW-305 Cobalt Wash
Cover: SW-252 Blue Opal
Fired to Cone 5 , 10 minute hold
Submitted by Sue Lavender

Ws: PC-602 White Cascade
Dots: SW-253 Green Opal, SC-3 Wine, SC-10 Teal Next Time, SW-402 Dark Flux
Cover: SW-154 Shipwreck (base) and SW-155 Winter Wood
Fired to Cone 6
Submitted by Kristine Angell

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