September 2018 Meeting at Wild Ginger Studio and Pottery

We had a great meeting at Wild Ginger Studio and Pottery in September 2018.  Sandy Woolley owner/operator of the studio kindly provided the space and led the demonstration.  Sandy showed how to create your own stains for adding to textured slabs.  She provided a recipe and provided tips and tricks to achieve the best results.

Sandy's Demo

Surface texture with stains

*using washes/stains to texture slabs, they don't stick to kiln shelf

*make buttons from scrap clay and then with the cord (fishing line) can use as a cut off      tool (made with 10 lb test)

*Use homemade mason wash (mason stain, flux, and water). The recipe is as follows: 1pt mason stain to 1 pt flux (gerstley borate or frit 3134) and 1 pt water, if going to cone 6.  If firing to cone 10 (gerstley borate or frit 3195) and 3 pts water is needed

There are 2 ways to proceed: 

1. take a slab and maybe begin with the light colors as the background and the darker colors dry brushed after the lighter colors
2. Be sure to have a plan for what you are going to make.  Using the least amount as possible on brush and using a fan brush, paint the slab. Then, using the texture mat on top of the stain. This then will cause the texture to be actually white or of less color as they are spread out more.  Moving in the same direction, basically dry brush the color on.  On the second slab, textured first and then paint on the stain.  
3. Finally, use the press-n-go system to get a bowl or plate