So as I paint the color slip details onto the thrown & stamped pieces,
I need to make sure that every stamp gets highlighted and none
of them are missed along the way. Problem is, some of the soda slips
look surprisingly similar to the natural clay color. So as I go around
dabbing a little bit of slip into the stamps… how do you keep track
of what you’ve done if the slip matches the clay?
Well, after years of struggling to keep track… a simple suggestion
by fellow-potter-friend Amy Higgason may have resolved my problem.
Why not simply color the slip so it contrasts more?
Sounds simple, right? Why did I never think of that?
Amy suggested using simple food coloring to tint the slip
as it will easily burn out of the slip at a low temperature before
the “real firing” starts to affect the pots.
So I added some food coloring to the slips that “match” the clay,
especially to the “smooth orange” slip – so I added red & yellow
to make it “oranger”… and look what happened…
Not only is the slip easier to see as I apply it to the pot…
it was also a really groovy process! As the drops of food color hit the slip,
it seeped & spread, made really fun patterns that evolved as I stirred it together!!!
Who knew?…
Merryn says:
“OOOOOOHHH! WAS UNCLE GARY PAINTING THAT???”
(She’s duly impressed, as am I).
Gary you are amazing! Are you doing all that work by yourself or do you have somebody to help you. I see hundreds of mugs, plates and you name it. Are you also pug, wedge, clean all by yourself???? And does the food colouring burn out completely on a high fire?
MERCIA – Yes, I am indeed doing all of the work myself. No interns. No apprentices. Just me. All of the wedging, throwing, stamping, trimming, firing, glazing, cleaning, blogging, Facebooking, marketing and everything else… and all of the sunrise bike rides. Let’s just say I don’t sleep much!!!
GARY YOU ARE SUPER AMAZING. YOU ARE GOOD. I STOPPED POTTERY BECAUSE IT WAS TO HARD WORK AND SALES POOR. BUT I THINK I will do some work again.
You are the best. Keep it up.