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Glaze Combinations Galore

March 29, 2024January 29, 2026

Northern Lights with Vinyl Resists

Classic Northern Lights with vinyl resists by Anna Zeilstra

Classic Northern lights with vinyl resists by Anna Zeilstra

These stunning Northern Lights mugs by Anna Zeilstra feature a deep, atmospheric blend of AMACO Obsidian layered three times for a dark base. The top third is coated in AMACO Indigo Float, creating a celestial effect, while three coats of Smokey Merlot add a rich, moody depth. Swooshes of Seaweed bring a dynamic, aurora-like shimmer where the Indigo meets the Obsidian, enhancing the night sky aesthetic against the hand-carved forest and crescent moon design.

The tree and moon designs on these winter night mugs appear to be achieved using a vinyl resist technique, where vinyl decals are applied before glazing. This method allows the raw clay to remain exposed beneath the silhouettes, creating crisp, clean contrasts against the deep, layered glazes. The result is a striking nightscape with rich blues, purples, and greens, evoking the beauty of a moonlit winter forest under the northern lights.

Vinyl resists (not permanent!) are made using circut machine and must be peeled off before firing.

Glaze Application instruction

Vinyl resist forest and moon decals on mugs before firing  (Anna Zeilstra)

  • AMACO Obsidian all over x3
  • AMACO Indigo Float x3 on top third
  • Amaco Smokey Merlot x3 coats on top bit
  • Swooshes of AMACO Seaweed. ( Next time I will put the seaweed all around where the indigo meets the obsidian)

Credit: Anna Zeilstra

Another One Classic Northern Lights with vinyl resists by Cindy Hiebert

Next, we see the same glaze combination and the same Northern lights with vinyl resist decal idea, this time by Cindy Hiebert. The process is slightly different: the first coat of AMACO Obsidian is applied by dipping.

  • AMACO Obsidian dipped once
  • AMACO Smokey Merlot x2-x3
  • AMACO Seaweed x2-x3 brushed over
Northern lights with vinyl resist mug with blue-purple aurora glaze and forest silhouette (Cindy Hiebert

Credit: Cindy Hiebert

Combos Mugs AMACOAnna ZeilstraCindy HiebertCone 6glaze application instructionIndigo floatNorthern lightsObsidianPrefireSeaweedSmokey MerlotVinyl resists

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