Friday, January 2, 2015

Falling Leaves

This week I'm making more dinner plates hoping to get a set together. I pressed dry oak leaves into the clay. To color the leaves I poured off most of the water in the stain and frit mixture I previously used. I thought it was too thin with half a cup of water. We shall see how these turn out. I've applied the stain to greenware. If I don't get the results I hope for, I'll try the next set on bisque ware. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.

17 comments:

  1. I like the square plates and the leaf design. Will you use different trees, or stay with oaks.
    If you need more solid color you can make paste.....I part 3124; 1part gerstley borate; 1-2 parts stain. I add water to make it the consistency of paint. I use it as an underglaze, but it originally was developed to use on majolica.

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    1. Hi Suzi, thanks, I'll use other leaves too, I do like the impressions that leaves make. I think I need it to be more like a paste as you are suggesting but I don't want the color to be too dark either, I guess I just have to keep testing.

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    2. oh wondering what does the gerstley borate do ?

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  2. I know a N.C. potter, Travis Berning who has excellent results putting underglaze on leaves and impressing them into leatherhard forms.

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    1. Hi Dennis, thanks, this past winter I did a similar thing with a large bowl, then when I was sanding it before putting it in the kiln it broke. I will try it again. I'll check out travis's work, thanks

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  3. Those are great plates, and you've got some pretty leaves pressed into them...like the idea of painting them...or as Dennis says, using the underglaze right on the leaves. Things to try!

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    1. Hi Barbara, thanks, I need to try the underglaze on the leave thing again, the bowl I tried broke before the bisque, glad Dennis and you reminded me here. ha

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  4. Hi Michele, thanks, I wonder if theyll be too dark since I am using full strength stain mixed with frit ? we shall see

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  5. Looking good. There is a real elegance to leaf shapes isn't there?

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    1. Hi Sue, thanks, oh I do love what mother nature does to something so simple as a leaf, the patterns and colors.

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    1. Hi Joanne, thanks, I have always been surprised at the shape of plates being round thinking wouldn't square ones fir in a cabinet much neater.

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  7. Love these plates, they are lovely! Happy New Year to you and Gary!

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    1. Hi Marguerite, thanks, happy new year to you too, I tried your pepper cranberries but they turned out too hot.

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  8. design of leaves on the square plate is awesome...now just get ready to eat some cuisine on this plate it will be more yummy!! thanks for your motivational comment!! God give you more creative energy to be a wonderful artist :)

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    1. Hi Adhi Das, thanks, I can't wait to get these completed to see how they turn out, it's times like these that I wish clay had a quicker turn around, but it teaches patience. I hope my energy maintains, thanks.

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I love suggestions, questions, critiques, thanks for your comment