Mayco

Crackled by Design | Use a Hairdryer to Create Glaze Textures

The batik technique intentionally produces interesting cracked patterns between the layers of color by force-drying glazes with a hairdryer. While this practice is typically discouraged, this tension can lead to narrow cracks that break up the glaze layers to enhance the piece’s visual texture.

Design Tips

Begin with applying two layers of glaze as a solid foundation for your design. Allow the glaze to dry without the use of the hairdryer. This ensures a solid base for the subsequent layers and prevents glaze pulling from the bisque.
As soon as you apply the desired design with glaze, use a hair dryer on high heat to force-dry the layer. Be sure to keep the hairdryer at a distance to avoid moving the glaze while it’s still wet. Dry until you start to see cracks in the glaze.
To prevent the glaze from drying prematurely and causing unwanted cracks, work in sections. This allows you to maintain control over the glaze application and achieve the desired effects without rushing.
Use AC302 Wax Resist to separate glaze areas in your design, creating clean lines and preventing colors from blending.