Joanie,
I use two types of the dark coloring applied in one of three ways
The clay really isn't red, it just looks that way from the lights.( especially funny looking on top of rails
) I have a tuff time getting correct colors on unglazed parts. It is a chocolate-y brown very similar to your typical japanese bonsai pot brown that we commonly see.
Notice....no seams visible outside
only on bottom and inside.
Dale