Colored Slip

Espresso

Dark Brown Colored Slip- 8oz. Squeeze Bottle

$21.50

Rich coffee brown with earthy depth—essential for natural tones and grounded designs.

Try our super thick, ultra saturated colored slip in Espresso. Paint on or use with our mediums to dip, drip, print, trail or whip. Velvet finish when left unglazed, color intensifies with glaze.

Mix with other slips to create your own colors, tints, shades and tones. Can be fired Δ06-Δ6.

Colored Slip is currently shipping in 3-5 business days.

BOLD COLOR

Vibrant color in just one coat

READY TO USE

Pre-mixed and ready to use

MIX + MATCH

Create colors, tints and shades

Why You'll Love This Color

Try Espresso for organic grounded designs, natural color palettes, creating earth tones, wood-inspired pieces, rustic modern work, neutral foundations.

EXPLORE TINTS, SHADES, TONES AND HUES

Add to any color for earthier versions.
Mix with Buttercream for tan.
Combine with Midnight for near-black brown.

OTHER IDEAS TO TRY

1-2 coats for full espresso richness
Beautiful paired with Buttercream for natural earth palette
Excellent for creating "raw clay" look on white porcelain
Pairs gorgeously with Peacock or Ivy for sophisticated palette
For chocolate brown: use as-is with 4 coats
For tan: mix 30% Espresso + 70% Buttercream

Preparation
Shake well before each use—bottles should feel completely uniform. If settling occurs, shake vigorously for 30-60 seconds. Well-shaken slip remains workable for 20+ minutes of continuous use.

Application Methods

Brushing: Apply 2-3 thin coats, allowing each to dry. More coats = deeper color.
Dipping: Submerge piece for 1-2 seconds, allow excess to drip naturally.
Trailing: Use squeeze bottle or piping bag for detailed line work and patterns.
Stenciling: Pat gently with sponge, avoid smearing edges.
Screen Printing: Use dense sponge through screen for graphic designs.
Sgraffito: Apply 2+ coats, let reach leather-hard, then carve through to reveal clay beneath.

Timing
Apply at slip stage (very wet) or soft leather-hard for best adhesion. Can be applied to bone-dry with careful technique, but leather-hard is ideal.

FIRING:
Earthenware slip should be applied to earthenware/low fire clay and bisque fired at cone 04-05. If glaze is applied after bisque firing, fire glaze at cone 06.

Stoneware slip should be applied to mid-fire stoneware clay and bisque fired at cone 04-05. If glaze is applied after bisque firing, fire glaze at cone 6.

SAFETY:
We make our Colored slip by combining Mason Stains with a commercial slip.

Store in original container with lid tightly closed to maintain consistency. If slip thickens over time, add a few drops of water and shake well. Keep from freezing. While our slips use non-toxic, lead-free materials, avoid ingestion and wear appropriate studio attire. Not for spray application without proper ventilation. Clean up with soap and water while wet. Always follow standard ceramic studio safety practices. Review Safety Data Sheets before first use.

**For Functional Ware:**
Always apply a food-safe clear glaze over slip for functional surfaces that will contact food or beverages. Matte or unglazed slip surfaces are decorative only. Always test your pottery to ensure it is food-safe and dinnerware-safe. If you intend to sell your pottery, you may be required to provide test results to your customers. Please consult the Consumer Product & Safety Guide prepared for Small Businesses, Resellers, Crafters and Charities for additional information: http://www.cpsc.gov//PageFiles/113995/cpsiasbguide.pdf

For Your Slip Bottles:

Store upright at room temperature
Shake well before each use
Tighten cap after use to prevent drying
If slight drying occurs at bottle opening, simply shake to reincorporate
Shelf life: 2+ years when properly sealed
Freezing won't harm slip—thaw and shake well

For Finished Pieces:
Once fired, your colored slip is permanent and durable. Like other handmade pottery, you bisque pieces can be glazed with your choice of glaze and:

Washed in dishwasher (if glazed and fired to maturity)
Used with hot or cold foods (if food-safe glazed)
Displayed outdoors (if fired to Cone 6+ for frost resistance)

Cleaning During Creation:

Wipe fresh spills immediately with damp sponge
For dried slip: Gently scrape with metal rib or scrub with stiff brush
Remove excess before bisque—dried slip doesn't sand easily
Clean tools and work surface with water immediately after use

WHY WE MAKE COLORED SLIP

At our studio, we believe color is the soul of ceramic art. Since 2019, we've been crafting professional-grade colored slips that empower artists to bring their boldest visions to life—without the guesswork, settling issues, or inconsistent results that plague DIY mixes.

Every bottle is mixed in small batches in our Houston studio, tested on multiple clay bodies, and formulated with commercial-grade ceramic stains for color that fires true every single time.

Whether you're a professional production potter fulfilling hundred-piece commissions or a hobbyist creating your first slip-trailed mug, our slips deliver the same vibrant, reliable results.

We're not just selling colored slip—we're supporting your creative practice with tools that work as hard as you do.

WHAT IS COLORED SLIP?

Colored slip is liquid clay enriched with ceramic stains to create vibrant, permanent color. Unlike glazes that sit on the surface, slip becomes part of your clay body, creating seamless color integration that can be carved, layered, and manipulated.

Think of it as paint and clay combined—offering the creative freedom of color with the structural integrity of clay itself. You can brush it, dip it, trail it, stamp it, or screen print it. Once fired, the color is permanent and can be glazed over or left matte.

Our colored slips work great on earthenware and most mid-fire stoneware) and maintain their vibrancy across a broad firing range from Cone 06-6.

Quality Guarantee:
Every batch is tested on multiple clay bodies before bottling. If you experience any issues with settling, separation, or color inconsistency, we'll make it right immediately.

Damage in Shipping:
If your slip arrives damaged, send us a photo within 48 hours and we'll ship a replacement immediately at no cost to you.

Order Issues:
Wrong color? Missing bottle? We'll fix it fast—usually same-day shipping for replacement orders.

What We Can't Accept:

Slip bottles that have been opened, mixed with other materials, or contaminated
Returns after 30 days (but we'll still help troubleshoot!)
Color preferences ("I thought pink would be lighter") without trying it first—order samples to test!

Questions?
Reach our studio at hello@smashedstudio.com. We typically respond same day Wednesday-Sunday.