Surface Decorating
There are SO MANY methods for decorating your pieces both before they are bisque fired and after. It would be senseless for someone to try to compile ALL the methods in once place.
What I like to considers it the FELL (texture) of a piece in my hand. I keep in mind a few questions when choosing decorative techniques...
Will someone use this? How will it fit in their hands?
How does it feel when you pick it up?
If it is intended to be for food or drink, you should consider how it gets used and what will touch it. A mug or cup will have some differnt considerations as opposed to a baking dish.
Tools/Material Needed for decorating:
Use any tool that can carve, gouge or scrape layers of clay off of your piece to create separate layers or a texture.
Things to watch for:
The thickness of the walls of your piece…. You may carve too deep and go through the walls.
Moisture Level/Stage of Clay:
All of the modeling and forming should take place during the WORKABLE/PLASTIC stage of clay.
Carving the surfaces should ONLY be done during the LEATHERHARD stage of clay.
Tools/Material Needed for decorating:
Lightly pre-draw the surface of the clay with a pencil or needle. Use a SHARP knife for cutting the clay out.
Things to watch for:
Taking out Material may create structural issues. Space out your cut outs to prevent collapse or cracks
Moisture Level/Stage of Clay:
Taking pieces out of the sides of a piece should ONLY be done during the LEATHERHARD stage of clay. If you do it too soon, the piece may not be strong enough to stand (it may collapse).
Tools/Material Needed for decorating:
Slip trailing on the surface of the form or adding pieces of clay to the surface by SCORING, SLIPPING then pressing/blending the additional clay to the body of the vessel.
Things to watch for:
If you are adding clay, match the moisture level of the added piece with the vessel and score & slip well.
Moisture Level/Stage of Clay:
Leatherhard or slightly softer.
Tools/Material Needed for decorating:
Stamps, Rollers or any tool that can produce a texture or repetition when pressed into and removed from the surface of the clay
Things to watch for:
Pressure control… You might push through the wall of the piece. You will need to compensate for the pressure that you apply.
Moisture Level/Stage of Clay:
Prior to LEATHERHARD... Soft enough to take a print or stamp, but stiff enough not to cave in.
Surface Manipulation
Tools/Material Needed for decorating:
Use any tool that can indent or push to manipulate the form to create a unique structure.
Things to watch for:
Pressure control… You might push through the wall of the piece. You will need to compensate for the pressure that you apply.
Do NOT use sharp objects, as they could CUT the clay.
Moisture Level/Stage of Clay:
Semi-Leatherhard/Semi-Plastic
Too hard and it will crack when pushed into or out. Too soft and the form could collapse.
Sculptural Approach
Tools/Material Needed for decorating:
Use multiple tools that can sculpt, indent, carve, blend, substract or push to manipulate the form to create a unique structure.
Things to watch for:
Air Pockets, Wall Thickness, Pressure control… You will need to compensate for the pressure that you apply. When adding pieces of clay for texture or parts of your sculptural vision…. Match moisture level…. SCORE & SLIP!
Moisture Level/Stage of Clay:
Semi-Leatherhard/Semi-Plastic
Too hard and it will crack when pushed into or out.
Too soft and the form could collapse or will not support your additive parts.
More links to videos for decorative techniques.