This fern tile is 14 by 8.5 inches and is very thin. I used a real epiphyte fern which I impressed into the clay and after bisque I hand brushed multiple glazes for the fern and background. I think this thinner tile would look nice with a recessed wood frame with about 2 inches of wood showing around the tile rather than having the edge of the frame right up against the tile. I can also imagine this fern with a darker background color glaze.
This tile is about nine inches square and is also very thin. The one inch flowers are applied as sprigs and are attached only in the middle, the rest of the flower juts forth. There's a matt clear glaze fired over the top of the bisqued underglaze colors. I used commercial underglazes and I can see some of the brush strokes in the green. I'd like to make the same type of wood frame for this tile as the one I described for the fern tile above. Oh I just had an idea looking at this tile, make that two ideas, it's never ending. Ha.
Macabee 5 clay is great to work with because it has a long working time before it dries out and it doesn't have much grog which comes to the surface. But I just rolled out another slab and it is full of air pockets, not just a few but hundreds of them and there are spots that aren't mixed well. Wonder if that's true of just the Axner clays or the other Laguna clays too. I was using B Mix 5 which seemed to be mixed better. Is anyone else having problems with commercially prepared clays from Laguna? Also the shrinkage rate for Macabee is 13 percent and the other clays I use are 11 percent so that means I can't use this as the inlaid clay, but maybe I'll try a test to see if it works.
I tested some Coyote crawl glaze in white, black, and green on this textured tile. I think crawl glaze would be better on a more smooth surface. If I used the white crawl glaze over a contrasting slip color it would emphasize the fissures. Some of the glaze started to flake off as I applied it. I remember reading on Zygote's (king of the crawl) blog, about crawl glazes being particular to application. Any thoughts? Thanks for all of your comments and suggestions, I really appreciate your input.
i really like the fern tile!
ReplyDeletethe only experience i have with Laguna is b-mix and Miller, neither of which i have purchased in the last 18 months. air bubbles right out of the bag is irritating.
Hi Michele, thanks so much, maybe it's the economy and businesses are cutting corners, what do I know. Ha.
ReplyDeleteDon't know about those air bubbles, but the large pressed fern is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI've been using Miller low fire bodies for years without any problems. You might want to check out a few more bags. If it seems to be a consistent problem I would call/ email Laguna.
ReplyDeleteMany years ago I returned a half ton of clay to a different company because it was mixed with so little water that it bounced on my wedging table. They were very nice about taking it back for a better mix, but I stopped doing business with them.
Linda, your fern is GORGEOUS! I'm more and more becoming a fan of those greens. Soothing, but with a hint of mystery.
ReplyDeleteSome really nice stuff in this post and the last. I especially like the reddish brown bowl with the gold leaves in the last post.
ReplyDeleteI might have to try photographing my tiles on stands like you did and see what happens. I took mine off Etsy because the pictures just weren't good enough.
I've never seen inlayed clay before...really like the effects, and love the Fern Tile...beautiful!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful fern and flower tiles! And I love the last one because it looks like a leopard pattern. Very cool!
ReplyDeleteInstead of worrying about clay compatibility, can you use one clay and mix stain into some of it to use as inlay.? Like everyone else, I like the fern too.
ReplyDeleteJust remembered something about inlaying clay- I used to carve out designs and inlay slip. A sculptor I knew was doing soda firings and sometimes I'd sneek in a pot. One slip, made from my stoneware clay body, was tinted with cobalt and turned black in the firing. The other was a white slip. I didn't have any problems at that time.
ReplyDeleteI have seen marbelized pots where the person was useing 2 different clays (not tinting same body). I wondered if she had to experiment to find compatible clays.
Hi Rubye, thanks so much, I must make more of these; thinking of some bowls too.
ReplyDeleteHi Smartcat, thanks I do like the Macabee I till try calling them to see what the deal is, perhaps others had the same problem.
Hi Kittie, thanks so much, I was after that soothing effect with this piece, the background color is supposed to be blue but it is gray blue with hints of green, probably better than the blue I was thinking of. Ha.
Hi Melissa, thanks, I have my cube set up on the counter in the bathroom which gets southern light this time of year then I have a huge fluorescent light above and I set a foam pad on top of the cube to diffuse the light so I got some fairly good photos that way. I've also had good luck photographing pieces out of doors without a cube and just on a cloudy day or on a north facing side of the house.
Hi Stacie, thanks about the fern tile, I have been experimenting with this inlaid clay for years and keep coming back to it occasionally, check out the links within the post to see more I've done.
Hi Marguerite, thanks so much, I plan to do something with those crawly glazes, not sure what yet, but something I like the patterns too.
Hi Dennis, thanks, the reason I used the white clay with the dark clay body is that I wanted the contrast of the natural clays against one another. I suppose I could use the white clay body inlaid with the white and just glaze the background a dark color. I was hoping to get ones I like and then just use a clear glaze over the top, see the link within the post to see what I mean about the ones I did previously. I'll have to think about your suggestion and see what I can do. I don't think I can use a dark clay body and stain it white but maybe the reverse will work with the white clay body.
Hi Melissa, thanks, I think that technique is called mishima, with inlaid slip, I may give that a try too, so many things to try and so little time Ha.
ReplyDeleteOh your imagination seems to be limitless! The second piece with the one inch flowers is so lovely! I love it!!
ReplyDeleteHi Sapphire, thanks so much. I have some new ideas about a tile with flowers like that one, can't wait to try it. I think sometimes people like the brighter and happier colors so that was my intention with that tile so glad you like it.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan, thanks so much, please sign up as a follower here and you can find me on facebook to, I'll stop by yours.
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