Bubble glazing is a simple surface decoration technique that creates organic circular patterns on bisqueware using soapy glaze solution and a straw. The bubbles transfer a thin layer of colored glaze to the surface, leaving overlapping rings that look different every time. It works well as a standalone texture or layered with other glazes.
What You Need
- Liquid glaze or underglaze in your chosen color
- Dish soap
- Water
- A straw
- A shallow container (wider than the piece you’re decorating)
- Bisqueware to decorate
Step-by-Step
1. Mix Your Bubble Solution
In a shallow container, mix your glaze or underglaze with a generous squirt of dish soap and enough water to make a thin, runny mixture — roughly the consistency of whole milk. The soap is what allows the bubbles to form and hold long enough to transfer. Too little soap and the bubbles pop immediately; too much and they won’t carry enough glaze to leave a mark.
- Tip: Start with roughly equal parts glaze and water, then add soap to taste. You’ll dial in your ratio after a few test blows.
2. Blow Bubbles
Place the straw into the solution and blow gently and steadily — don’t suck. Build up a mound of bubbles that rises above the rim of the container. The bubbles should be full and round, not thin and flat. If they collapse immediately, add more soap.
- Safety: Glaze contains materials you shouldn’t ingest. Use a dedicated straw and don’t share it. Some potters use a small aquarium pump instead of blowing directly.
3. Transfer to the Piece
While the bubbles are still full, hold your bisqueware face-down and press it lightly against the top of the bubble mound. The bubbles pop on contact and leave a ring of glaze on the surface. Lift straight up — don’t drag. Repeat with fresh bubbles for more coverage, or rotate the piece for overlapping rings.
4. Let Dry and Fire
Let the glaze dry completely before firing. The bubble pattern fires as a slightly raised texture where the glaze deposited. Results vary with glaze type — runnier glazes will spread and blur the rings; stiffer glazes hold the pattern more clearly.
Tips for Better Results
- Use contrasting colors: Bubble glaze over a base coat in a contrasting color shows the rings most clearly after firing.
- Multiple colors: Mix separate solutions in different colors and apply them in layers for overlapping multicolor rings.
- Test first: Bubble glaze behaves differently with different glaze chemistries. Do a test tile before committing to a finished piece.
- Works on flat surfaces too: Tiles and flat slab pieces show the pattern clearly and are good for testing new color combinations.
