Friday, March 26, 2010

Terrasig Tests




Good morning! I wanted to share some dishes that I tested my terrasig on last week. I like the way they came out and how they reacted nicely with my glaze. I am able to print easily on the surface and there are a few more texture possibilities since the sig is so much thinner than the slip I was using. It also seems to work nicely with the underglaze. I still need to do a little more testing but so far I am liking it. If nothing else I really like the red sig on the bottoms of pots to give a smoother texture without glaze. Today I have lots of decorating to do and hopefully a kiln to unload. I might take a break this weekend to paint our upstairs and if I get a chance I will share some pics of the process since I think it will be a major change (it is soon to be our office/guest room) for that space!

11 comments:

Judy Shreve said...

Your tests look great. Did you put a clear over the terra sig? -- in other words are these photos after the second firing - did you put terra sig on greenware - underglazes on terra sig & then bisque? - then a clear glaze & final firing?

pinkkiss said...

Terra sig, underglaze, bisque fire, wash of black mason stain, clear glaze and final firing. So, yes:)Sig can be tricky with glaze so you have to be careful which one you use. I used Meri-Kari Clear to 04 and it worked well. How are yours coming out?

Judy Shreve said...

I fire the terra sig to ^04 before applying any underglaze -- in fact I may add underglaze a couple of times & (re)fire - to build up the surface. Then I add clear (I mix my own clear) & fire to ^04 one last time.

I have an OM4 terra sig that I add colors to & a redart terra sig that I use on the bare clay areas only.

pinkkiss said...

That's about the same as me, I just like to work on greenware when I paint and it saves me a firing. I also just found a satin glaze that I like over the sig, I'll have to test it more though. I mix my own glazes too but I used a recipe from Kari Radash...she has a great site for low fire you should check out. Gotta love the testing!

Judy Shreve said...

Shawna - I have looked at Kari's webpage -- lots of good stuff! I've used the Kendall clear - but not the Meri-Kari.

I still have not found a clear I really like. The clears are either too matte & dry for food - or to shiny/glossy for the look I'm after. Right now I'm using Ron Meyer's clear. And for my colored glazes - I use one base (Hirsch) & add colorants. Both of these recipes are on my blog.

pinkkiss said...

Judy,
Do you have a recipe for a matte clear? I have been searching for one! I don't care if it's too mate for food as I plan to only use it on the outsides of pots. Every one I have tried is too milky. I don't even need it to be thick. If you have one you wouldn't mind sharing I would be super appreciative:) Thanks!
Oh, and the Meri-Kari is nice but prone to pinholes, not sure what to do about that yet. I try to soak it at the end of the cycle but I think it gets caught on my surfaces if that makes sense?

Patricia Griffin Ceramics said...

These are mighty fine. Fun to read the comments back and forth with you and Judy.

Judy Shreve said...

Shawna -- I have 3 different clear recipes -- none are matte -- but I think your clear is turning milky because of the soak or you are cooling too slowly. Clear - but it's very nature doesn't need a slow cool -- matte surface happens by crystals forming in the slow cool -- thus making it not clear anymore or milky. Does that make sense?
That's why I fire so many times -- with the clear firing being last.

henrysmom said...

these are FANTASTIC!!

Judy Shreve said...

Shawna - clears are hard to get matte. When a glaze is matte it has formed crystals - so that would prevent 'clear' -- maybe why you get milky areas. Clear glazes don't like to be slow cooled for that very reason. A transparent is not as glossy, but I think they are too dry - sometimes - for functional pieces.

I don't have a clear/transparent I really like -- yet! All of my recipes are posted on my blog & I have a search feature at the upper right hand area of my blog.

Let me know what your testing reveals & I'll do the same. :>))

Zemphira ~ Scatter Art. said...

You work is amazing. I love it!!!