Alisa Clausen on fri 4 feb 05
Dear Clayart,
Jonathan is experimenting with Brian's types of experiments to find =
textured surfaces for non functional work.
Recently I have also made some of the same type of experiments. I think =
Brian's work is fascinating and it is=20
180 degrees from the usual testing I do to find glazes for functional =
work.
It is exciting to see how simple blends do become a glaze. I will not =
say durable, stable,
etc. because that is not the goal of these experiments. Both ends of =
the spectrum are valuable
for sure, and Brian's experimenting is a quick way to learn what ceramic =
materials do by themselves and how they
influence other materials they are mixed with. When I look at some of =
my tests, I look at them as =20
raw material flashcards.
www.gartside.info/homepagesouthx.htm Here can you see many of the =
experiments Brian makes and suggestions to
get you started.
I will share my results by descriptions and photos, but some of the =
nuances are so slight, one really needs to=20
make these tests themselves, and see up close and feel the tiles. =20
I hope that we can begin a dialogue, Garthside Chats, with Clayarters =
interested in this type of testing and with Brian who=20
reads Clayart and get some exciting pairing of raw materials to try in =
our kilns.
Below are my first experiments:
Because I started out by blending only two materials, I kept one =
constant, to see how it was influenced by all of the other materials in =
my studio. You can use a teaspoon or a bath tub, it is by parts. 1:1.
When I finished the 1:1 tests, I added a third part, so I get more =
mileage out of the test batches.
The second batch of tests had a constant of Cornwall Stone and Kaolin.
I also followed some type of logic, that I would blend fluxes with =
clays, or similar fluxes side by side, so I could clearly see any =
visible differences in the surface. However, I had enough test tiles to =
mix almost all of the materials I have in the glaze studio.
Two part tests
Cornwall Stone/Frit 3134
Melted, Glossy cream
Cornwall Stone/Gerstely Borate
Yellower gloss cream, some pinholing
Cornwall Stone/Kaolin
Mat and slightly dry white glaze, where brush strokes stayed visible
Cornwall Stone/Ball Clay
Same as above, slightly more cream in color
Cornwall Stone/Feldspar
Semi gloss white, crazed
Cornwall Stone/Nepheline Syenite
Slightly glassier than above, crazed
Cornwall Stone/RIO
Mat, dry and cracked dark brown
Cornwall Stone/Zinc
Pebbly, mat, white. Looks like it will ball and crawl if really thick. =
Have to redo thicker.
Cornwall Stone/Borax
Very similar to above, very pebbly and rough surface.
Cornwall Stone/Dolomite
Matt with a sheen, cream colored smooth surface.
Cornwall Stone/Barium
Melted gloss, transparent, crazed
Cornwall Stone/Strontium Carb.
Melted gloss with opaque white area where thickest
Cornwall Stone/Whiting
Melted, smooth transparent gloss
Cornwall Stone/Red Clay
Melted, smooth, transparent brown gloss
Cornwall Stone/Wollastonite
melted, white creamy opaque gloss. Big crazing cracks where thickest
Cornwall Stone/Talc
melted, yellow cream opaque gloss, pinholing.
3 part tests
Cornwall Stone/Kaolin/Borax
Gloss transparent, crazed
Cornwall Stone/Kaolin/Nepheline Syenite
Opaque, semi mat white, pinholes
Cornwall Stone/Kaolin/Strontium
Dry mat white, slip like
Cornwall Stone/Kaolin/Barium
Dry, bright white, slip like. Shows brush strokes clearly
Cornwall Stone/Kaolin/Rutile
Dry, light rust colored, slip like
Cornwall Stone/Kaolin/Feldspar
Melted, white, opaque mat, pinholes
Cornwall Stone/Kaolin/Spodumene
Mat cream with a pearly slightly iridescent surface, frosty where =
thickest
Cornwall Stone/Kaolin/Zinc
Rough, white, opaque surface. Frothy high texture where thickest.
Cornwall Stone/Kaolin/Talc
Melted, smooth, gloss transparent
Cornwall Stone/Kaolin/Talc
melted, opaque, white semi gloss
Cornwall Stone/Kaolin/ Frit 3134
Melted, smooth, clear and transparent gloss
Cornwall Stone/Kaolin/Gerstely Borate
Similar as above, very slight yellow tint in contrast to above clear
Cornwall Stone/Kaolin/RIO
Dry, dark brown, cracked, slip like, visible brush strokes
Cornwall Stone/Kaolin/Red Clay
Rough, broken and bubbly surface, dark tan.
I still had test tiles..
Cornwall Stone/Barium/Ball Clay
Dry, white, slip like
Cornwall Stone/Barium/Dolomite =20
Melted mat, opaque, slightly yellowish
I am out of test tiles and I cannot buy them at the all night gas =
station, so until next time,
Regards from Alisa in Denmark
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