This guide is a continuation of a previous one that discusses how to clean your ceramic bisque cone 04.

When you are ready to paint your item, be sure that is fully cleaned and dry. I mentioned before that I prefer Duncan paints. This is true but before you buy, make sure you are getting the right paint. Acrylic paints/opaque paints such as those from Delta Ceramcoat, FolkArt, and Apple Barrel Colors cannot be fired at all. This means you will not get your piece to Cone 06 which has a shiny look like ceramics in the stores. If you fire a piece with acrylic paints, the paint will just come off. This wastes your time of painting and the money you invested in the acrylic paints. You need underglaze paints. I use Duncan underglaze concept paints and I absolutely love them. And I'm sure there are other brands of paint. Duncan is my supplier but there are also Mayco paints that highly reputable.  

After you use paint brushes, you really need to clean them well. There are countless types of cleaning solutions. I have the following cleaning solutions (and I love all of them): Mona Lisa Pink Soap for artist brushes that acts as a cleaner, preserver, and conditioner; Loew & Cornell Brush Cleaner for Acrylic Paints; Loew & Cornell One-Step Non-Toxic Oil Brush Cleaner & Conditioner which I pour into a Brush Cleaning Jar with a sponge inside both also made by Loew & Cornell. I have not used "Better Way" Brush Cleaning Fluid but know that it is a good product. Loew & Cornell also produces a Metal Paint Brush Washer with Screen that is sold on eBay. There is also "Brush Plus" Waterbased Cleaner and Conditioner.

When you want to fire your piece for the final time, if you don't have your own kiln, you'll have to find a place to get it burned. They can provide you with lots of advice about glazes for your piece.