Bisque is the name given to pottery or ceramic greenware after it has been fired. There are many different ways to decorate ceramic bisque, such as relief decorating, using stencils and using decals. Painting is one of the more common ways of finishing ceramic bisque, and there are several ways that this can be done.
Preparation
It is important to remember that before you begin painting the ceramic bisque that the surface needs to be clean.Wipe the bisque using a clean, damp cloth or sponge. Gently wipe the surface to remove dirt and dust that may have settled on the bisque. The glaze will adhere better to the surface if it is dampened and if it is free of dust and dirt.
Fire Glaze
Use a brush to apply the glaze in the design you wish. You may also wish to cover the bisque entirely in one color. After applying the glaze, brush a coat of clear glaze on top of the base coat. Place the glazed bisque pieces on a special nichrome wire stand so that they don't touch each other in the kiln because they may stick together. Once in the kiln, the high temperatures will melt the glaze, fusing it with the bisque. When the firing process is finished, the bisque should be cooled for the same amount of time that it was heated which depends on the number of pieces being fired. Apply a clear protective coat that will seal and protect the glaze.
Non-Fired Paints
Non-fired paint is a glaze that can be applied to ceramic bisque and does not need a kiln or oven for the paint to adhere. Choose a gloss or matte glaze that you can apply with a brush or a glaze that can sprayed directly onto the ceramic bisque. These non-fired paints usually dry quickly and come in many different colors. Begin by applying the first coat of paint in the design or you may also paint the entire ceramic bisque using one color. Let the first coat of paint completely dry. Once the first coat of paint is dry, you can apply a second coat if you wish. Next, apply a sealer which is a hard coat that protects and brightens the colors of non-fired ceramics. Like the paint, these sealers dry quickly and can either be brushed or sprayed onto provide a nice finish.
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