Cold Finishes

[Kathy Ransom]

I've had a few sculptural pieces sitting around (for a few years), they were fired to cone 6 but I've never found just the right glazes for them.  This piece was painted with a base coat containing metal fragments and while it was still wet I applied a few coats of watery patina, waited until the colors developed, then sprayed it with a matte fixative.  She is in a show in May called Urban Wild so I needed to come up with a solution for finishing her and I do like the rusted patina.  Has anyone else tried other finishes on their non-functional pieces?

[0ibbwdyhdge9l]

Kathy - I was at a workshop last month and the man that put it on uses arcylic paint sprayed with airgun after piece has been glaze fired.  Purely non functional sculptural work.  It really adds a feeling of dimension to the pieces. 

 

[Kathy Ransom]

I watched Tip Toland's demo at NCECA last year and she spatters her pieces with layers of colour using acrylic paint.  There are so many cool finishes available in spray cans at the hardware store that I've thought of trying.

I've been making urns (recently posted a pic of my leaf urn on this network) and the top, lid, and bottom look great with funky, shiny glazes but the sides need a different treatment.  I carve the sides and on the leaf urn I used underglazes, then a thin covering of best clear to bring out the color.  I've been looking for a clear gloss or matte (oxymoron I know) glaze but would really like to try shoe polish over acrylic paint or gesso. As I really enjoy making these urns I have 4 more ready to bisque but hate to do much yet because they really do take a while to carve and I hate that sinking feeling of taking something out of the kiln that I've messed up!

[Kathy Ransom]

Beth Cavener-Stichter sprays (or brushes?) acrylic house paint on her pieces and it suits them so well. What I'm looking for is something that is just right for the piece it is going on to.  I wasn't convinced about the rusty finish on this figure but was a little stumped.  I have another figure from 5 years ago that I really don't want destroy!