Project designed and demonstrated by Linda Bernstein.
Materials:
metal clay
olive oil
work surface - preferably glass
deck of cards
small roller about 3/4" x 8"
Saran Wrap Classic plastic wrap
craft knife or tissue blade
rubber stamps
3" x 6" x 1/8" plastic sheet
nail files or salon boards
kiln
glass enamel powders - silver black for oxidizing
craft brush
paper towel
water
brass brush
600-grit polishing paper
Sunshine Cloth polishing cloth
Steps:
1. Roll out a sheet of metal clay six cards thick and larger than the stamp. Put a little oil on the stamp so that they clay will not stick in the stamp.
2. Stamp the image in the clay (figure A). Cut around the stamped design using a tissue blade (figure B).
3. Using a plastic sheet, roll a rope of the metal clay the thickness of the sheet.
4. Wet the edges of the sheet with paste or slip of metal clay and put the rope around it. Trim at the corners (figure C). Do the ends and make the loops (figure D). Let dry.
5. Reinforce the corners and fill any cracks with clay paste or slip (clay that has been thinned with water).
6. Using a nail file, refine all the edges of the piece. Perfect the piece before firing.
7. Fire the piece at 1650 degrees for two hours or follow the instructions for the metal clay you are using.
8. Remove the piece from the kiln. Smooth the piece with a brass brush then polish to a high shine.
9. Wash and apply glass enamel powder carefully to the fired piece. Fire it again at 1450 degrees for one minute.
10. If desired, add dark accents by oxidizing with black max or liver of sulfur (figure E).
11. Polish the piece with a polishing paper and cloth.
Tips:
- Set up the work area with all the tools you need before you get the clay out.
- Have a specific design in mind before beginning to work with the clay because it dries out very quickly.
- Keep the clay covered with saran warp classic while you are working.
- Keep the clay tightly wrapped up in plastic, in the box, in a closed zip lock plastic bag with a wet paper towel when you are not using it.
- If the clay dries out it can be rehydrated with a little water.
Resources precious metal clay, kilns
PMC Connection
Phone: 972-485-0200
Toll Free Phone: 866-762-2529
URL:
www.pmcconnection.com
Precious Metals Clay Guild (PMCG)
The Precious Metals Clay Guild (PMCG)
Phone: 970-419-5503
URL:
www.pmcguild.com
Precious Metal Clay Silver in No Time videos
featuring Linda Bernstein
Vol. I - Beginner Workshop; Vol. II - Intermediate Workshop
Artique.org
E-mail:
LBernstein@artique.org
Website:
www.artique.org
Guests Linda Bernstein
Artist
Phone: 847-478-0284
E-mail:
lbernstein@artique.org
Website:
www.Artique.org
Also in this Episode
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