I use Mason Stain colors mixed with Southern Ice Porcelain to create my original designs in very vibrant colors.
Mix the Mason stains with just enough water to create a creamy solution.
I use my mixer to knead in the stain solution until the color is even throughout the clay body. This can also be done by hand.
I want the finished clay to be soft as cookie dough.
I make sample discs of each color for reference.
I do this with every batch of clay I color.
SECONDARY COLORS
To create a third new color, I mix two existing colors together.
I weigh each color then shape it into a sloped triangle shape.
Flip so the thickest end of one color matches the thin end of the other.
Add a bar of white clay as a base to create pastel shades.
I slice the resulting loaf into five or six numbered pieces.
I knead each slice separately and re-number it.
STACKING THE COLORS
Sometimes, I stack them free form into a rectangle for a loose wavy pattern.
The colors are hard to see before firing, but not after.
Sometimes, I roll and cut them into exact thicknesses for distinct stripes.
Apply a thin coating of colored slip between the layers to create a thin shadow.
I cut the patterned loaves by placing the loaf on a level surface between a pair of rulers. I pull the cutting wire towards me while resting it on the rulers to control the thickness of the slice.
If you want to try this yourself, the simplest patterns to begin with is the checkerboard.
A SIMPLE CHECKERBOARD PATTERN
Cut equal slices of two colors.
Stack them alternately with slip between each layer.
Don’t use too much slip, just enough to cover.
Slice this striped loaf and re-assemble it by flipping alternate slices so the colors are opposite.
When you are done, gently drop this on all sides to firm up the attachment. Wrap the loaf in a dampish cloth, seal it in a plastic bag and let the loaf rest overnight before using.
Larger, more complex murrini forms take days to create.
A simple checkerboard is the core of this new pattern. Assembly is just as messy as it appears! However, the final pattern will be crisp and clear.
Here is a dish made from the new pattern. It is resting in a supporting mold while it dries.
Here is a huge quilt pattern during the assembly process.
This quilt pattern was used to make large vases and wall hangings.
MORE PATTERN BUILDING
I have sliced a leftover loaf of red, white and blue stripes into three or four different widths. Some have been cut straight and some on the diagonal.
I make some fat checks, some tiny checks, and some herringbone paterns.
Then I cover everything with plastic to keep it moist overnight.
I cut the thicker slices into bars, then mix and match them into a quilt pattern.
This controlled quilt will make an interesting base for a wilder pattern around it.
By the end of day one, I have these basic patterns made.
I will cover them with plastic to relax overnight and to set together so they will not separate when I start to work with them again tomorrow.
I designed some stars to build into '"fabric" loaves.
Here is the finished "fabric" ready to be shaped into quilt sections.
Here are some finished pieces made from these quilts.
Mugs on drying racks
I use templates to cut the sections then assemble the quilt squares using slip to join.
You have to be careful during assembly since any error might not be spotted until it is too late to fix without ruining the whole loaf. Still using slips I join each section to the next until it is three sections wide and tall.
Here is the result of a full week of work. Four quilt patterns ready to be shaped into vases.
Remember what I said about not paying attention? The one on the left got assembled incorrectly during a telephone call.
Luckily I could still pull it apart and assemble it correctly.
