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horrible tenmoku mistake

updated sat 25 jan 03

 

karen terpstra on fri 24 jan 03


Hi Jo,
"Horse head" got my attention in your post so I thought I'd reply.
First of all, If you've found a form you like.make more!!! I'm assuming
it took you awhile to make that sculpture and that's one of the reasons
it is precious to you. Hang on to it and use it as a reference or
prototype for more.

If you want to experiment with surfaces over the tenmoku, keep in mind
that these are experiments and view it as research and a great learning
experience for future work.

I've taken many forms and experimented with alternative surfaces. For
example: glazes or slips that are not meant to "fit" so I can achieve a
crackly, peely, gnarly surface; acrylic or oil paint; I've used paint
and then fired part of it off (cone 018) to achieve a strange looking
surface. I've used some graphite (spray cans) over lots of work. Try a
low fire glaze and fire to 04. Many of the low fire commercial glazes
will stick to anything. Just make sure that with spray paint or firing
paint in the kiln, or using graphite, the ventilation is top notch.
Make sure you wear a mask when applying.

I'm not proud of my website..it needs updating, and much more needs to
be added. I'll get to it eventually, but you can see some graphite horse
stuff there http://www.uwlax.edu/art/KTerpstra.htm

Horsewoman claybud,

Karen Terpstra
La Crosse, WI


Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 19:22:49 -0500
From: Jo
Subject: horrible tenmoko mistake

I recently bisqued a wild horse head sculpture that I was particularly
pleased with. Unfortunately I then suffered an artistic attack out of
proportion with my skill level and splashed it liberally with tenmoko
glaze - the fired result was truly horrible!

Does anyone know a way in which tenmoko can be overlaid? I'm
aiming for any very rough gritty matte look - I've been experimenting
with various volcanic effects. Don't want to risk destroying the form
but
any glaze has to be an improvement on this!

Ideas?

Judith Miller on fri 24 jan 03


You might try re-firing it at a very low temperature; sometimes a partial re-melt will give a nice blistery look & change the brown to metallic.

Judy in slushy sloppy north Idaho

Snail Scott on fri 24 jan 03


At 08:32 AM 1/24/03 -0800, you wrote:
>Just make sure that with...using graphite, the ventilation is top notch.
>Make sure you wear a mask when applying.


Karen-

I understand your caution in firing paints, etc,
but why include graphite in the warning?

-Snail