Northern Lights on the White Stoneware by Mick Foote

Northern Lights on the White Stoneware

This Northern Lights on the white stoneware clay was shared on facebook by Mick Foote after people asked for the exact layering. It’s designed for Cone 5 -6 glazes and creates a soft, atmospheric blend – like aurora bands over a pale horizon.The hint for this light look is not using AMACO Odsidian celadon glaze as a base.

Why This Combo Looks Like Northern Lights

• Snow gives a bright, clean base on white clay.
• Blue Rutile adds that cloudy, aurora-like movement and blue atmosphere.
• Obsidian anchors the bottom, creating a darker “horizon.”
• Smokey Merlot adds subtle warmth and depth as it fades down—helping the layers look more dimensional.

Clay + Form Notes

Mick used white stoneware from Potclays UK.

The piece size noted after 04 Cone bisque:

• 105 mm at the rim
• 75 mm high
• Bisqued to Cone 04

White clay without Obsidian helps the blues and aurora-like transitions read brighter and cleaner.

Northern Lights Glaze Application instruction:

• Inside 3x AMACO Snow
• Outside top 1/2 3x AMACO Snow
• Outside bottom 1/2 3x AMACO Obsidian
• Top 1/2 3x AMACO Blue Rutile (except 5mm at rim) and 5 mm overlap with
• Bottom 1/2 3x AMACO Smokey Merlot fading to bottom
• 10mm band 3xHoney Flux 5mm down from rim and same at mid point between Blue Rutile & Smokey Merlot
• Fired to Cone 6 medium speed

Tips for Best Results

To get this Northern Lights on the White Stoneware keep in mind the following tips:

• Keep your coat thickness consistent (especially Snow and Blue Rutile).
• The fade is the magic: apply Smokey Merlot strongest near the overlap, then lighter toward the bottom.
• Test on a small cylinder/tile first – different clays and firing cycles can change flow and color break.
• Mick keeps it simple and does everything right on his phone. He doesn’t edit the pots at all — he just likes his photos to look cleaner and more “finished.”:
  • He usually starts in Dola to swap in the background he wants. After that, he jumps into Snapseed to crop, add any text, and sometimes a little vignette if the photo feels like it needs it.
  • He says there are a few more little steps sometimes, but that’s the main workflow.

Credit:Mick Foote