Preparation

May 20, 2009

Today I have spent some time preparing for an enamelling weekend in Edinburgh. Myself and Dorothy Cockrell will be running a workshop on Saturday and Sunday for the Scottish region of the Art Clay Guild. The event has been organised by Emma Baird of Art Clay Scotland and The Little Bead Shop I have been […]

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Steps for creating bracelet sections for enamelling

May 20, 2009

In this series of posts I will attempt to show my steps towards creating sections of a bracelet ready for enamelling. Here I am really just exploring ideas for a piece I am thinking about in relation to my residency at Whitby Museum. The images relate to the journeys and explorations of Captain Cook in […]

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Photopolymer plates for art clay silver

May 20, 2009

For this section of my bracelet I have used a photograph of a turtle carved in stone to create a black and white graphic image which has then been used to make a photopolymer plate. The art clay silver is rolled out to an even thickness (between roller guides). The photopolymer plate is oiled lightly […]

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Creating curved slabs for a bracelet

May 20, 2009

To create a slight curve in the art clay silver pieces I place the freshly cut slabs of art clay silver over a ceramic mug to dry. This creates a very gentle curve of the right amount for a section of a bracelet. Here the left hand piece is left smooth and the right hand […]

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Adding loops

May 20, 2009

Once the pieces are all thoroughly dry I take a section of the dry tube and dip it quickly into clean water. I rub it firmly on the edge of the dry piece where I want to attach it and then hold it for a few seconds to allow it to connect firmly. I then […]

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Using latex masks for water etching art clay silver

May 20, 2009

When your slab of art clay silver is thoroughly dry you can draw on your design using a fine pencil. The use artists latex masking fluid to draw over your pencils lines. Once the latex on the front of the design is dry thoroughly coat the edges and the back of the piece. Ensure there […]

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Water etching art clay silver

May 20, 2009

When the latex mask is thoroughly dry you can begin the water etching process. Dip the piece into a small bowl of cold water and allow the exposed surface to get wet. Gently brush the clay away into the water. Keep re-wetting the surface. I usually stop and dry the piece to check the depth […]

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Ready for second firing

May 20, 2009

In the top and the left hand side pieces I have added fine silver wire and tiny round silver balls of fine silver to the surface of the fired art clay silver using silver overlay paste in order to create cells into which I can later add enamel. The lower right hand piece has been […]

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Art clay silver ready for enamelling

May 20, 2009

Here are the four samples using the different techniques to create cells ready for enamelling into.  They have been finished using a wire brush in the usual way then 3M pads and have been burnished for a very short time in my magnetic polisher.   

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Another day, another bead

May 19, 2009

Yesterday I spent a bit of time studying a fantastic book on the history of beads.  Inspired I then went on to attempt large holed beads with ‘horns’.  I began by doing the spotted yellow and dark blue bead, just to get my hand in and then went on to make the other three.  These […]

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