Tip #76 Texture Texture Texture!
Ordinary pieces can become quite extraordinary when they are imbued with texture.
Once way to make texture is by impressing objects into the clay. Another is by using smooth clay but creating patterns with glaze, underglaze and slip.
Here are a variety of ways to add texture to your work.
- Press found objects into clay. Some of my favorites are: rocks, tree bark, rubbery, non-slip
shelf liner paper, wheat germ, and dry cereal.
- If your piece isn't formed yet, and the texture is thin enough, you can put the textured material on the clay and re-roll it with your rolling pin or slab roller.
If your piece is already made but still soft enough to texturize, use a
Pony Roller to impress the item into the clay.
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A great example from handbuilding.com
By Daniel Gegan M.F.A.
Wichita, KS
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- Use patterned plaster molds. You can make your own by pouring plaster into molds such as margarine containers, and carving before they are fully hardened.
(See previous tips on making plaster molds.)
Or you can use our full size texture molds
to create large slabs. (On sale this month for the first time
ever!) A simple teapot, for example, becomes very interesting when made from patterned slabs.
This photo shows a piece made with these texture molds. See other
great examples:
subtle textured tea bowl
round pot with funky texture
textured candlesticks
leather look pots
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Roulette sample (click to enlarge)
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- Use patterned roulettes. A roulette is a circular shape with pattern all around, that you can roll for a continuous pattern.
Create stamps from clay, carve them and bisque fire them. Even a crude design looks great when repeated in such a way.
Or you can buy
pre-made designs such as our Deco-Rollers.
- Use Stamps. Again, carve your patterns into clay or plaster, or buy our new
Rocker Stamps.
- Paddle your pieces with textured
wood paddles or a rope
texture paddle.
- Add thick slip to a mustard bottle, then make slip "dots" or "stripes" all over your surface.
- Apply thick slip to your piece, and "comb" it. We have rubber triangle combs with 3 patterns, and a new
6 piece patterned rib set
with 12 different patterns total. Or you can make your own by taking a piece of rubber of vinyl and cutting your own patterns into it.
- Use textured
rolling pins like ours, or make your own by applying a pattern of
caulk to a standard rolling pin.
- When using textures, try to use glaze which adds to the textured look rather than covers it up.
Usually these would be transparent glazes, or glazes that "break".
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Example of soft clay rubbed on by hand
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- One of my favorite textures is made by taking
soft clay and rubbing it onto a leather hard piece. You can
experiment to get the effect you like. But sometimes the best tools
are the ones you are born with!
- Some people have good
success using stamps from craft stores. You can also take pieces of
foam and draw your own patterns using a wood burning tool or soldering
iron with burning tip. (Make sure you are in a well ventilated
room!)
- Draw textures into clay using rubber clay
shapers. Or use carving tools to carve designs out. For example,
the Kemper wire
loop sgraffito tools or ribbon
tools.
- Stamp with letters
and numbers.
Copyright 2007 Cindi
Anderson, BigCeramicStore.com May be reprinted if credit is
given.
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