Jon Price has been researching and developing  crystalline glazes since 1989. He specializes in Willemite-crystal glazes, because he finds the rich, vibrant, large crystals that grow in it to be quite captivating.

One of the exciting characteristics of these crystalline glazes is that the crystals and background glaze are sometimes the same color, sometimes different shades of the same color, and often quite different colors.  It is special metallic oxides dissolved in the glaze which produce these colors. Depending upon the amounts used and the rates of heating and cooling, the crystals pick up the colorant to varying degrees.  This yields an endless variety of crystal colorings.

Jon's investigations have lead to several glazes of unique color and crystal shapes.  In particular, his intense green with black lines (that often looks like malachite), his vibrant blue, and his unique, rich red-and-green are some of his best known colors.  The designs and color combinations found in his glazes are not possible with any other ceramic technique.

Jon spends an appreciable portion of his time developing new colors.   As a result he has a very large color palette--much larger than that of any other crystalline glazier.

He has also developed a technique for layering different types of glazes to give unique and exciting effects.  This enables him to develop patterns of colors that would otherwise be impossible.

Many of his pieces  have "secondary" crystals.  These crystals are usually rather small, often occur in great numbers, and may be in the same or a different color  than the large Willemite crystals.  Secondary crystals are quite unusual, and often  spectacularly enhance a piece.  It is interesting that the chemical structures of these secondary crystals have never been determined since very few potters have been able to produce them.

Although he is very pleased with his glaze developments, much of his time is still spent experimenting to create ever newer ones.

Since 1994 he has devoted full time to making and selling his crystalline glaze on porcelain.   His exquisite pieces may be seen at many fine galleries in addition to the several shows that he does in southern California. 

All of his glazes are completely lead-, cadmium-, and barium-free.