DEEP CARVING
PIECE: Cast at least ¼ inch thick. Leather hard greenware.
Supplies:
Kemper K20 Tool
Sponge
Double Ended Stylus
Wire Brush
Basic Cleaning Tool
Needle tool
Single Edge Razor Blade & X-acto knife
Mist Bottle
Sgraffito tool, loop or shovel with brush on one end Stiff stain brush
If you like to carve and you have some favorite tools, please bring them to
class.
Suggestion: If you are doing a leather hard piece other than a tile, such as a
vase or plate, etc., mist the piece often as you work and if you can not finish
the piece in one sitting, mist it, cover it with a wet light weight towel,
pillow case, etc. Then cover with a piece of plastic.
Pattern: The pattern may be traced on to the piece with your stylus. Another
technique to transfer pattern check the article enclosed in your folder. Some
inks from printers will transfer on a wet piece of greenware. Simply press and
wait for the moisture of the piece to grab the ink.
A pencil or pen will not show up on a wet piece. Since you are in leather hard
greenware pressing hard with a stylus or dull pencil to impress your pattern
will not stress the piece. Another technique for transferring a pattern is to
cut thru your paper pattern with an X-acto knife. This technique is good with a
small uncomplicated pattern. With patterns a little more complicated, it doesn’t
work very well.
A piece this thick will take about 2 weeks or more to dry from the core out. Do
not fire any piece still cold to the touch. In the summer, 2 weeks is plenty,
but in winter I would wait an extra week. Before you start always clean the seam
from the bottom of your piece. It may be difficult to hold you piece to clean
the bottom later. Since you have carved the piece it will have weak places.
After cleaning, soft bisque fire to cone .018. This makes the piece soft bisque.
If you are going to work in bisque for the painting technique just fire to
witness cone .04. Soft bisque is just like greenware. It makes the piece
stronger and easier to handle if you prefer to work in greenware.
It can be sponged and mist can be applied to keep dust down while you area
carving. The stiff stain brush may also be used wet to cut down sharp edges that
will reject glazes.
NOTE: Deep carving can be done on dry greenware, but the piece should be ¼ inch
thick. Use the mist bottle and it will make it easier and not so dusty.
IDEAS:
1. Use your piping to make another level to your pattern
2. Vinegar – to make texture
3. Small grader to make sprinkles of greeware for texture. For best results,
fire sprinkles to
Witness cone .04.
4. Small Attachments – Remember the best way to attach is wet to wet.
5. Slip painting
6. Soak small pieces of cotton in slip and apply.
7. Silica sand in color products to produce a texture and color.
8. Specialty glaze, like CSP42 Foam will give texture and dimension.
9. Frit is wonderful for dimension, texture and color
10. Thicken slip with Vinegar to a soft butter consistency and sponge on an
area, paint mixture on other areas. Remember for the best results…Wet to Wet.
11. Use CSP50 Latex mask to wipe away on the different levels of your design.