Velvet Underglaze

57 underglazes / Amaco

Underglaze is not glaze. It is not paint, and it is not a base coat. It is the stuff you draw with.

Amaco's Velvet line is the one most studios settle on, because it goes on silky, holds a line without bleeding, and keeps its color from low fire all the way up.

Cone 05/10Bisque to Cone 04

Velvet Underglaze by the numbers

57underglazes on our shelves
57at Black Level

Friendly studio tip for this underglaze family

Underglaze is for drawing, not for coloring.

If you are illustrating, doing sgraffito, carving, lettering, or washing color into texture, you are exactly right. If you are about to solidly cover a pot, stop and ask a main instructor first, the ones in the pink tees. These are the most expensive bottles in the building.

And remember the order: raw clay, then bisque, then glaze. Underglaze goes on before the first firing here, not after.

Every Velvet Underglaze underglaze we have in house

Hover any tile to see a pot fired in it, or tap once on a phone.

Jump straight to one

57 to choose from

Amaco Velvet Amethyst underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Amethyst

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Amethyst fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Avocado underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Avocado

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Avocado fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Baby Blue underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Baby Blue

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Baby Blue fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Blue Green underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Blue Green

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Blue Green fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Blush underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Blush

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Blush fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Bright Orange underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Bright Orange

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Bright Orange fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Bright Red underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Bright Red

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Bright Red fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Cactus underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Cactus

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Cactus fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Chartreuse underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Chartreuse

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Chartreuse fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Chocolate Brown underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Chocolate Brown

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Chocolate Brown fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Cinnamon underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Cinnamon

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Cinnamon fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Coral underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Coral

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Coral fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Dark Green underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Dark Green

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Dark Green fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Deep Yellow underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Deep Yellow

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Deep Yellow fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Electric Blue underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Electric Blue

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Electric Blue fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Elephant underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Elephant

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Elephant fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Flaming Orange underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Flaming Orange

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Flaming Orange fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Hunter Green underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Hunter Green

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Hunter Green fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Iceberg Blue underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Iceberg Blue

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Iceberg Blue fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Indigo underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Indigo

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Indigo fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Intense Yellow underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Intense Yellow

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Intense Yellow fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Ivory Beige underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Ivory Beige

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Ivory Beige fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Jet Black underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Jet Black

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Jet Black fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Lavender underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Lavender

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Lavender fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Light Green underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Light Green

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Light Green fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Light Red underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Light Red

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Light Red fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Lilac underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Lilac

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Lilac fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Maroon underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Maroon

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Maroon fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Medium Blue underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Medium Blue

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Medium Blue fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Morning Fog underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Morning Fog

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Morning Fog fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Nectar underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Nectar

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Nectar fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Orange underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Orange

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Orange fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Peach underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Peach

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Peach fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Pearl Gray underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Pearl Gray

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Pearl Gray fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Pistachio underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Pistachio

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Pistachio fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Purple underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Purple

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Purple fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Radiant Red underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Radiant Red

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Radiant Red fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Real Orange underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Real Orange

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Real Orange fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Red underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Red

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Red fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Red Brown underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Red Brown

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Red Brown fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Rose underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Rose

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Rose fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Royal Blue underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Royal Blue

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Royal Blue fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Salmon underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Salmon

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Salmon fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Sea Glass underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Sea Glass

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Sea Glass fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Slate underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Slate

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Slate fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Straw underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Straw

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Straw fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Teal Blue underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Teal Blue

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Teal Blue fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Teddy Bear Brown underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Teddy Bear Brown

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Teddy Bear Brown fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Terra Cotta underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Terra Cotta

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Terra Cotta fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Turquoise Blue underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Turquoise Blue

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Turquoise Blue fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Ultra Black underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Ultra Black

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Ultra Black fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Ultra Violet underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Ultra Violet

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Ultra Violet fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Ultra White underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Ultra White

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Ultra White fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Velour Black underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Velour Black

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Velour Black fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Violet underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Violet

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Violet fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet White underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
White

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

White fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

Amaco Velvet Yellow underglaze test tile, fired at The Clay Hole
Yellow

AmacoVelvet Underglaze

⬛ Black Level

No Tile

Yellow fired on our test tile two ways. The left half is the underglaze on its own, matte and chalky the way bare underglaze reads. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze, which deepens it and adds a little gloss.

How the Velvet Underglaze line works

Fifty seven colors on our shelf, all Black Level, and worth understanding before you reach for one.

These bottles are the most expensive thing per ounce in the building. That is the whole reason there are rules: the only way we can keep this many colors on an open shelf is if nobody empties one coloring in a planter.

Coats

Two or three thin coats beat one thick one, every time. A thick coat is where you get crawling and lifted edges.

Share brushes with the brush-on glazes if you want. Just wash them properly when you are done.

Layering

Underglaze goes under a clear glaze most of the time, and that is what the right half of every test tile on this page is showing you.

Left bare it stays matte and chalky. Under clear it deepens and gains a little gloss. Neither is wrong, and both are on the tile so you can choose.

Food and safety

Amaco rates the Velvet line lead free. Under a food safe clear glaze, an underglazed pot is as safe as the glaze over it.

Bare underglaze is not a food surface. If a piece is going to hold food or drink, put a clear over the decorated area.

Clays that suit Velvet Underglaze

Underglaze reads truest on a light body, because it is a colored slip and the clay under it shows through in the thin places.

Light bodies#16 Porcelain, B-Mix and Half & Half give you the color on the bottle. Start here for illustration work.
Buff bodies52 Buff and Speckled Buff warm every color slightly, which is often what you want on a rustic piece.
Berlin GrayOur dark body will fight a pale underglaze. Ultra White and the lighter colors need two or three coats to read at all.
SgraffitoA dark underglaze over a light clay is the classic setup. You scratch through the color and the clay comes back as a clean bright line.

Common questions about Velvet Underglaze

What is underglaze for at The Clay Hole?

Detail work. Sgraffito, carving, illustration, line work, lettering and washes into texture. If you are drawing, you are fine. Solid coverage needs a main instructor's approval first.

When do I apply underglaze?

On raw clay, leather hard or bone dry, before the piece is fired. Not on bisque.

Do I have to fire underglaze before glazing it?

Yes. Every piece of underglaze goes through a bisque before any glaze touches it, no exceptions. Unfired underglaze lifts off on the brush and contaminates shared glaze and dipping buckets. Bisque is free, so this costs you time and nothing else.

Which membership level covers Velvet Underglaze?

Black Level, because these are the most expensive bottles per ounce in the building. Members at any level are welcome to buy their own and bring them in.

How many coats of underglaze?

Two or three thin ones. A single thick coat is where crawling and lifted edges come from.

What do the two halves of the test tile show?

The left half is the underglaze fired with no clear over it. The right half is the same color under a clear glaze. That difference is usually bigger than people expect.

Test tile pots lined up on the glaze shelves at The Clay Hole

The Velvet Underglaze test tile pot

This family does not have a test tile pot. The colors and results come out close enough to what the book shows that a pot would not tell you much more, so work from the printed Glaze Bible and the tile above.

About these images and what your pot will actually look like

We have done our best to represent every glaze here accurately, and you should still expect your pot to look different from what is on this screen.

Our glaze tile images are digitally created. They are built to show the character of a glaze, not to be a color match.

A screen is not a printout, a printout is not a test tile, and a test tile is not a finished pot. Each step in that chain shifts what a glaze looks like, sometimes a lot.

On top of that, the pottery itself changes the result: the clay body, how thick the glaze went on, whether it was brushed, dipped or sprayed, what was layered under or over it, where the piece sat in the kiln, how hot that spot ran, how fast it cooled, what was fired next to it, and how much texture the surface had. Two pots glazed from the same jar on the same day can come out different.

Treat every image here as a starting point, and treat a test tile fired on your own clay as the real answer.

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