Ceramic pencils and crayons are a quick way to add line work, shading, and detail directly onto bisqueware or greenware without needing to mix underglaze or glaze separately. They’re made from a dry mixture of porcelain and mason stain that you reconstitute into a solid stick. The marks fire permanently and can be left unglazed, covered with a clear glaze, or used under a transparent color glaze.
What They’re Used For
Fine line work, hatching, shading on textured surfaces, writing, signing the bottom of pieces, adding detail over a base glaze layer, or sketching a design onto bisqueware before painting with underglaze. They behave similarly to chalk — dry, slightly dusty marks that set when fired.
Materials
- 100% dry porcelain (bone dry scraps ground to powder, or dry porcelain slip)
- Mason stain — 1–10% by weight depending on desired color intensity
- A small cup or container
- Teaspoons for measuring
- Wooden tool or plaster bat for forming
- Water (small amount)
Step-by-Step
1. Mix Dry Ingredients
Combine the dry porcelain powder with your mason stain. Start with 5% stain by weight for a medium-strength color — adjust up for more intensity, down for pastel tones. Mix thoroughly while dry before adding any water.
- Tip: Wear a dust mask when working with dry clay powder and mason stains. Both contain fine particles you shouldn’t inhale.
2. Add Water and Form
Add water very gradually — a few drops at a time — and mix until the powder just comes together into a stiff, clay-like consistency. It should hold a shape when pressed but not be sticky or wet. Roll into a thin log or press into a mold to form your pencil or crayon shape.
3. Dry Completely
Let the formed sticks dry fully — at least 24–48 hours. They’ll shrink slightly as they dry. The drier they are, the better they draw. A fully bone dry stick leaves a clean, consistent mark; a slightly damp one drags and smears.
4. Optional: Bisque Fire
Bisque firing the sticks makes them harder and more durable — closer to a real pencil or chalk stick. Fire to your standard bisque temperature. They’ll be more resistant to breaking and will sharpen more cleanly on sandpaper.
How to Use Them
Draw directly onto bisqueware or bone dry greenware. The marks are dry and dusty — handle the piece carefully after drawing to avoid smudging. Apply a coat of clear glaze over the design to seal the marks and add a fired surface. You can also use the pencil under a transparent colored glaze to add line detail that shows through.
- Tip: Sharpen ceramic pencils by rubbing the tip lightly on fine sandpaper. Don’t use a standard pencil sharpener — the stick will crumble.
Color Notes
Mason stain colors shift at different firing temperatures. Always test on a tile at your target cone before using a new color on a finished piece. Some stains fade significantly at cone 6; others intensify. See: What Are Mason Stains?
