short answer: i don't really have enough experience to have a modus operandi and am trying lots of different things.

in the past i've used both commercial and studio glazes at cone 9 and cone 6.

but this piece is my first time working with terracotta, and since terracotta needs a much lower firing tempurature than anything i've done before, I am trying something new.

on this piece i plan on using a studio made terra sigillata and stains, but i'm not sure what cone yet, because our kilns have been broken for a few months and i havn't been able to do test tiles.

hopefully i've sort of answered your question...