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Slip-Decorating Techniques
Skill Level - Some previous experience in
throwing/handbuilding required
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Background
Slip decorating techniques have existed almost as long as ceramics. Potters
discovered very early that a coarse, grainy clay could be concealed with a slip
coating, and that a light slip could provide a "ground" for darker
slip decoration. While glazes may shift and move in the firing, a slip
essentially becomes part of the claybody, and is more likely to stay put,
regardless of what the overglaze does. Slips are the ideal medium for achieving
sharp, linear definition of color, and multiple slips may be abraded or
distressed to maximize the sense of age or use. To this day, slip decoration
remains one of the most viable and versatile means of ceramic surface
development.
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Slip Trailing
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Workshop Description - As is the case with artist’s paints, colored
slips offer many additive and subtractive options allowing the development of
complex layered surfaces which can be extremely evocative. We will investigate
as many ways as possible of using slips to develop surfaces which meet the needs
of the individual artist/potter. Basic throwing and/or handbuilding experience
is required for this workshop. We will explore preparation and coloring of
slips, monochrome and polychrome slip-painting, sgraffito, slip-layering,
slip-trailing, feather-combing, marbling, and terra sigillata. Slide shows will
present a broad diversity of historic and contemporary slip-decorated work. |
| Materials Provided by Host - Buff and/or brown stoneware clay
(or terracotta for a low-fire slip workshop), white base slip and colored
slips (colored with oxides and/or Mason stains), four 36" or 48"
lengths of 5/16" wood dowel, one roll of 30 lb.-test fishing line,
duct tape. Facilities and Equipment Provided by Host - Two carousel slide projectors,
appropriately dark room with two screens or a large white wall, work
tables, 24" stool, pottery wheels with bat-pins, bats, tables, rolling pins, slab
roller (if possible), electric kiln for bisque-firing, several banding wheels,
1"-thick construction foamboard for making slump molds, good pencil sharpener or bench
grinder. |
Feather Combing
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Supplies for Participants to Bring
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Standard clay tools - the
packaged Kemper kit contains a wood rib, stainless-steel scraper-rib, wood
knife, needle tool, cutoff wire, small sponge, and trimming tools |
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One yard 10
oz. canvas duck or equivalent |
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Rolling pin |
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X-acto knife (pencil handle with
1" tapered blade) |
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Kemper S-10 stainless steel serrated rib |
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Selection of bamboo-handle
round brushes and flat hakeme brushes |
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Four hair-tint bottles with fine-pointed spouts (available
from drugstore or hair-dresser) |
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Four basket-ball inflating needles (from
sporting goods store) |
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Four ear syringe bulbs, (from pharmacy or medical supply
- get one-piece bulbs with rubber tips - not
plastic tips) |
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Four standard paper clips |
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Several towels or soft rags |
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Apron (optional) |
Suggested Schedule for Five-Day Workshop
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Monday Morning - Intro to workshop, studio safety, studio policies, distribute clay. Discussion/demonstration of forms to be slip-decorated. Work on throwing and handbuilding forms to slip decorate. Half-hour slide show on historical slip-decoration. |
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Monday Afternoon - Half-hour slide-show on historical slip-decoration. Discussion-demonstration of slip-painting and manipulation on fresh forms still on the wheel. Work on thrown and handbuilt forms. Experiment with wet-clay slip-painting and manipulation. |
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Tuesday Morning - Discussion of different kinds of slips, deflocculation, and coloring of slips. Discussion/demo on slip-trailing and feather-combing. Make forms for slip-trailing, feather-combing. Continue experimenting with wet-clay slip techniques. Half-hour slide-show on historical slip-decoration. |
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Tuesday Afternoon - Half-hour slide show on historical slip-decoration. Demonstration of slip-marbling. Work on slip-trailing, feather-combing, and slip-marbling. Make forms for slip-layering and
sgraffito. |
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Wednesday Morning - Demonstration of slip-layering and
sgraffito. Work on forms for slip-layering and sgraffito. Continue working on slip-trailing, feather-combing, and slip-marbling. Half-hour slide show on contemporary slip-decoration. |
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Wednesday Afternoon - Half-hour slide show on contemporary slip-decoration. Work on slip-layering and
sgraffito. Load bisque fire with all work to be glaze-fired. |
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Wednesday Afternoon or Evening - Slide lecture on Vince's work. |
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Thursday Morning - unload bisque-fire, glaze wares, load glaze-fire. Continue working on slip-layering and
sgraffito. Experiment with terra sigillata. |
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Thursday Afternoon - Finish all slip-layering, sgraffito, and terra sigillata work. Load final bisque-firing. |
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Friday Morning - Unload bisque and glaze firings, admire work. |
If you are interested in hosting one of my
workshops, please contact me for terms,
pricing, and scheduling.
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