The moon rock photo from the textures post a couple of days ago, inspired this first group of tiles which are drying slowly in the closet. These tiles are thick, about half an inch, to allow me to make the holes deep. My mind's eye can see what I want, but I'm not quite there with the texture and color.
For the upper left hand one I used my finger to dig the holes in the clay and then I filled the holes with slip. For the other three I used a tool to dig the holes then filled the holes with slip. I'd like to try these same shapes with the black clay and colored slips too. I could just see one with white slip as a contrast; I really like a black and white combination, so crisp looking.
The skies are supposed to be gray here for about a week. Maybe that's why I'm craving color, lots of color. For this group of tiles I took mason stains dry and brushed on the color. I'm not sure what will happen with this experiment, but the colors are bright like I'm craving. These tiles are fairly thick too. I intend them as wall tiles.
I used a higher percentage of stains in my slip batches this time and I'm using B-mix clay. I rolled this tile out large, about a nine inch square, and maybe a little too thin. I'm drying my tiles on wallboard so I'm getting a handle on warping. I painted the chartreuse lines and then the blue and then the silhouette style teapot, cup, and border.
I'm want to overlap some color, but wonder what will happen with one color under another when they are fired. I've used black over colors, but wonder about lighter colors over darker or more dominate colors. Will the bottom layer of color change the top layer? Working with flat surfaces with slip is fun because it's like painting on clay.
I have more ideas for colorful tiles with geometric shapes. I also have ideas for pots with texture and color I'm thinking about. I wonder if investing in tile cutter shapes would be beneficial? Like a six inch square and and 8 inch square. Have you used them? How did you like them? Do you have any suggestions for sources or types? I think I'll go make a few more tiles today. Comments and suggestions are welcome.
oh- these are nice- like your teapot!
ReplyDeleteMe too, also especially the teapot.
ReplyDeleteLove the colorful tiles Linda! I do have one of those tile cutters, they are nice because they cut evenly. I got mine at Aadvark years ago, and it's made of sturdy copper. what percentage of MS you used to mix with slip? Have a good day, I wish I could send you some sun too... :)
ReplyDeletei like the look of that teapot tile
ReplyDeleteI only just noticed that your blog has tabs/pages (like wordpress!). Glad to see blogspot is keeping up.
ReplyDeleteI noticed today I can only view one of your posts at a time. Before I could scroll down through your posts in sequence. Did you change a settings?
Tiles are looking good, Linda. I used to make a lot of raku tiles up to 16 inches across. Found that if I compressed them really well with a rib in all directions, it *helped* in combating warping. We used that blue or pink insulation board a lot (its lighter than wall board). Not sure if its 'better', but it seemed to work okay for us.
Your tiles are wonderful. I never dreamed there were so many steps involved in their making. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary
ReplyDeleteThe tiles are great, Linda.
ReplyDeleteWhen drying the ones I've made (not many), I put a board or other tile on top to help keep them flat..that is the extent of my 'help'. :)..
Have fun. T.
Hi Meredith, thanks, tea's a good thing.
ReplyDeleteHi Patti, thanks, for some reason I like doiing silhouettes.
Hi Yolanda, thanks, I'll have to get some tile cutter. I got on one site and one was over $50, yikes. I mix mostly by eye since I am only mixing in my baby food jars for the color, so that is 2.5 ounces of slip to about 1/4 to 1/3 teaspoon of stain. For the second set of tiles I brushed the stain directly on the clay with a brush, not sure what will happen.
Hi Michele, thanks, I still don't have an idea of how the colors will look after they are fired, each time and each clear it's different.
Hi Anne, thanks, I think blogger had them for a while, but I finally got around to discovering it, funny how we humans tend to stick to the same old thing. I changed to one post at a time because it was taking too long to download, for some reason explorer for me downloads each photo every time I need to get a computer guy over here to fix that, maybe I can change it to a week or something I'll look and see. I started comprssing with a rib, I'll have to check that insulation board out when I go to the store again, is it absorbent?
Hi Mary, thanks, then there are the two firings and the glazing too, ceramics is time consuming that's for sure.
Hi Trish, thanks, these are so thick I think their own weight will keep them down, except the teapot one, I'll have to keep an eye on it, but I can't put a board with the slip on them till that dries. Always have to keep checking them in all the closets around here. He he.
Thanks for the recipe Linda! Will have to get my act together soon and really get back to making stuff.
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming over to the giveaway and sending others to sign up. It's fun.