Paperclay slip as a Dimensional Element

Southern Ice Porcelain paperclay slip was used to create the raised look and feel for this sculptural vase (17"H x 5"W x 5"D).

1. The wax resist design was applied and drawn free hand.

2. Flashing slip was applied onto the entire piece. The waxed design resisted the slip.

3. Piece was bisque fired. The flashing slip cracks to give a nice texture.

4. The porcelain paperclay slip was applied in the wax resisted areas. Layers of the slip was built up until it had a sufficient raised dimensional effect.

5. The piece was then re-bisqued to weld the applied green porcelain slip on to the piece.

6. Wax was re-applied over the porcelain area to mask it out.

7. Carbon trap shino glaze is applied. The white porcelain surfaces is protected by wax.

8. Piece fired to Cone 10 reduction.

Incorporating Fired Pieces Into New Work

This is my newest piece, "Terra Nova."

What makes this piece interesting is that all the pods, except the dark colored ones, have been previously fired to Cone 10.

The pods were composed into the hull shaped structure (made of paperclay). Paperclay was used to "glue" everything together. The entire assembly was sent through bisque fire. Iron oxide and Manganese Dioxide stains were used on the outside of the hull shape to color it. No glazes were applied. The entire piece was fired to Cone 10 reduction.

The little red balls inside the seed pods are made from polymer clay for a pop of color. I've also used real seeds, also red, in the 3 central pods (barely seen here). These were added after the high fire. The white tentacles (southern ice porcelain paperclay) fired together with the piece (but not attached) were later assembled.

Left Over Paperclay Slip? No Problem!

Often times I have left over paperclay slip and if I'm not going to be using it for some time, I dry out the extra moisture and store the paperclay in plastic bags. If I am not in need of fresh paperclay, I may opt to dry out the slip completely (to bone dry), break it up into crumbs and then store it for later use.

The picture shows a batch of paperclay slip that I've poured on to an old bed sheet. I've enlisted the concrete of my patio to help "suck" the excess water from the slip. If you have plaster bats, that will work, too.

My technique take several days and I have to fold/flip the paperclay onto itself many times to facilitate the drying out process. If you are going to be working with moist paperclay, you decide when the paperclay is workable for you. The dried out paperclay can be rehydrated into a workable consistency when the need arises.

Paperclay Workshop Rescheduled

The paperclay workshop at the McGroarty Arts Center has been rescheduled to Sept. 12th due the recent fires in the Los Angeles area. The Center is fine, however the air quality is still bad.

There are some slots still open for people who are interested in the workshop.

Please contact the McGroarty Arts Center for more info.

Photo credit:Los Angeles Times