Decorating your Pots using Decals, Oxides and Sea Shells
People have created beautiful and practical pieces of pottery for thousands of years now, and we continue to do so today. We’re able to see back into mankind’s history by looking at the pottery our ancestors used in their religious ceremonies, their economy and their daily household activities.
Then and now, people have been pleased by seeing decorated pottery of various types. It is no surprise that throughout history, mankind has been a visual species that appreciates colors, contrasts and complementary designs in our pottery.
In modern times, there are many ways to decorate pottery. In fact, the possibilities are almost endless. And because decorating pottery is a way of expressing your artistic nature, you can do it however you want and no one has the right to criticize you for it.
You can begin decorating pottery in three easy ways. Each one of these methods offers its own aesthetic merits. One method is not better than another, so whichever method you choose will be a good choice.
You can use easy-to-apply decals. These are colored patterns in every conceivable design from apples to zebras and everything else in between. You can usually buy them from ceramic stores and sites although many people have been known to create decals of their own for a more personalized touch. For example, you can take a romantic picture of the soon-to-be-wedded couple, make decals out of it and then incorporate them into the mugs as wedding favors.
After the decals are applied to the surface, the mugs must be fired in a kiln at 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat will make the decals’ pale colors become vivid, and the rich assortment of colors will make your mugs come alive.
Oxides are another easy way to decorate pottery. Their colorants are potent, so you only need a small amount to add bright slashes, swirls and other areas of color to your pottery. Limit the oxide in your solution to about two to eight percent. You’ll get black as the end result if you include more than that. For safety reasons, always wear a respirator or mask when you’re dealing with dry oxides.
There are many ways with which the oxides can be applied. Brush the oxide over bisque, glaze and green ware. Brush on two oxides in an overlapping technique. Brush the oxide, wait until it is dry and then scratch with a sharp tool. Basically, you can just experiment with the material to achieve different effects.
Sea shells provide another way to decorate pottery. This easy decorative technique might make you think about your roots as a potter, because many ancient pottery shards are imprinted with sea creatures.
It’s simple to do. Just embed sea shells into your pottery before putting it into the kiln for firing. When it comes out of the kiln, you’ll have a unique item that can be used as the centerpiece for a beach-themed wedding or be given as a gift.
If you let your pottery decorations be guided by your hear and your hand, you won’t go wrong. Your pottery will become beautiful pieces of art.
Discussion Area - Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.