Wooster artist creates ceramic glaze technique
Art from Dawn Blattel on display at the Wooster Farmers Market last fall.
Visual arts educator, artist and Wooster resident Dawn Blattel didn't set out to invent a new method of glazing clay — sometimes inspiration arrives when least expected.
"My seventh-grade students created a clay piggy bank of a creature that has never been seen before," Blattel said.
During this project one student created bowling ball man and brought in a photo of his actual bowling ball. Blattel, always ready to tackle a creative challenge, set out to find a way to create a glaze that could emulate the characteristic look of swirling colors.
When a pandemic-related school shutdown occurred, Blattel had time to experiment. She began by layering glaze colors in a small condiment cup and pouring. She explained that while the results were interesting, it wasn't quite what she was looking for.
"I worked with numerous vessels such as turkey basters, applesauce cups, et cetera," Blattel said, "until my research unearthed divided cups that allow the colors to stay unmixed until the artist begins to pour the stream of multiple colors simultaneously.
"At this time I was also working after school with a former student, William Beltran, whose exemplary artistic skills helped me brainstorm and test out different viscosities, layers, resist methods and more."
Beltran also did extensive research to see if anyone was already doing the type of finish she was creating. "I was unable to locate any other artist using this method," she said.
Blattel reached out to Mayco, an international clay and glaze company in Columbus, and was able to meet with the CEO. "During this meeting," she said, "she confirmed that I was doing something new in the glaze world."
Mayco asked to film the artist using and teaching her new technique, and a relationship between Blattel and the company began to take shape.
"I am so incredibly grateful to Mayco," Blattel said, as the company has provided her with products to test with her glaze and the use of Mayco's marketing department resources to film, edit and advertise her method. The company also offered to provide the glaze and tiles to any workshops Blattel teaches that provide professional development to arts educators.
It's been an unexpected surge in media attention from the arts and teaching community for the local educator. Mayco featured her artwork in its ad for the October issue of School Arts. In the past four months, she's shared her method with over half a million viewers on YouTube and TikTok. Both Tri-County and Stark County educational service centers have requested Blattel teach her glaze technique to art teachers. She has taught at the Wayne Center for the Arts and has a display there.
Blattel presented her new technique at the 2021 Ohio Art Education Association Convention, and at the 2022 convention, she will be named the Outstanding Arts Teacher for East Region — a peer-elected honor.
The artist will be in some local upcoming art shows including a currently running show at Wayne Center for the Arts, and she will teach at Wayne Center for the Arts this summer. She also plans to attend numerous seasonal artisan markets including the Wooster Farmers Market.
Always and foremost a teacher dedicated to her students, she loves walking down the street in Wooster and hearing "Miss B" when a former student spots her. Blattel said the joy in their voice lets her know they knew they were loved as individuals in her classroom. A fan of saying "what if" and then searching for possibilities, Blattel is delighted this discovery all began with her students' imagination.
Blattel began last year expecting to work on some plarn purse weavings she was in the midst of finishing. Then her focus changed with the glaze discovery. "This presented a journey better than I could have dreamed, and I have a good imagination," she said.
The possibilities of this new glaze technique have opened up a world of custom-designed artwork for Blattel.
"The idea that someone wants to create a personalized gift and I have the ability to bring it to fruition for them is incredibly rewarding," she said. "I have said for years that I must make things to be happy."
It seems clear that between teaching and creating art, Blattel is making a lot of others happy as well.
Blattel's artwork may be viewed and purchased at numerous locations including Wayne Center for the Arts, local artisan markets, on Facebook at Blattel Glaze Pour Paintings and at www.dawnblattel.com.
She is a featured artist at www.maycocolors.com/dawn-blattel/, which includes the complete story of her discovery and videos teaching her method. Follow Blattel on Instagram and TikTok: @blattel_glazepour. For more information Blattel can be emailed at dawn.blattel@gmail.com.