Sunday, May 23, 2010

Sig and Stain


Test tiles are out of the bisque, I have put some black iron oxide wash on them and they will go back in for an 04 firing. They are chrome oxide, red iron oxide, cobalt carbonate, copper carbonate and rutile colored terra sigs and washes. I'm trying to keep this as simple as possible so I don't end up spending a ton of $$ on colors I may not use. Once I figure all of these colors out I may move on to a mason stain, but really I have all the color I could possibly need right now here with these.
I may add more stains to these like the test below, but first I want to see how this one comes out. It was a little house that wasn't very well built so I used it for a test tile. I sort of like the two above just simple, but we'll see.....

My friend Charlotte suggested I make some house pendants, so I did.....great for test tiles too!
Gerry has been shooting Nascar all weekend and Wes has had band rehearsal so I got a lot done around here. Firing an 04 tomorrow, happy week everyone!

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

There is something so very appealing about your houses. The tests look great; so many great options. The texture on the roof (per your closeup) is gorgeous. :-)
Miri

Kari Weaver said...

I love the top close-up. And I really like the house pendants. You've got me thinking that I should put soe test tiles in my next kiln.

cindy shake said...

TRACEY!! Look at those test tiles they are the bomb girl!!! What an awesome palette and the pendants- you are on a creative roll -Go Girl!!

Linda Starr said...

Your test tiles look beautiful, what great results you have gotten with so few materials. I love the added test color on the house, looks so rustic, I can't wait to follow in your footsteps with some test tiles of my own you have inspired me to get busy making some so I'll have them ready when I get my kiln.

Hollis Engley said...

Love those houses, Trace.

ang design said...

now thats a colour palette trace they look fantastci kinda feel like doing an installation with a ton of test tiles....yum and wow check out your 'house feet' very annimated! nice work girl..

Judy Shreve said...

Tracey your test tiles look great! Great palette! Are you doing a happy dance?

Are these tiles your raku body - white? And what percentage of stain did you use? Added to water only for the washes? And what created the orange color?

Love the house pendants.

Tracey Broome said...

Thanks everyone! Judy re: your questions- clay body white raku and brick red from Campbells (not a good hand building clay I found, but I love to throw with it) I did a line blend starting with 1/2 tsp and then 1 tsp. So I measured out one cup of sig put in 1/2 tsp. brushed it on the tile, then added another 1/2 tsp brushed that on. I could have kept going but that was all the color I really needed. Yes, I only used water for the wash, but I have a black oxide that has gerstley borate, I can't really tell the difference. The orange is from red iron oxide on one test (terra sig and a wash) and redart terra sig on another.

Michael Mahan said...

Tracey,

I like that closeup of the house, the one you used as a test tile. Reminds me of the old concrete and stone houses in Ireland.

I'd benefit from doing some more color washes with the tree platters and such that I do. I tried some with some stuff someone gave me called "color up" but I just didn't pursue it. Maybe I was afraid of opening up a can of worms with people wanting certain colors. I seem to like red iron the best.

What's the black iron fired to 04 do?

Tracey Broome said...

Micheal, I'll let you know about the black iron tomorrow, it's in the kiln going to 04 right now along with all the other test tiles. These washes are as simple as it gets. I'm all about simple these days!

Judy Shreve said...

Tracey - thanks. That's my same approach with oxides & stains & for the mason stains.
I mix a batch of my base glaze & add colorants by volume -- one cup glaze to 1 tsp colorant until I get the depth of color I need. And I do the same with my sig & my washes. I do add gerstley to the washes that need a flux.
It has so simplified my- glazing -life.

Ron said...

Killer tests Tracey!!!! Nice going.

Laura Farrow said...

everything looks great Tracey!

Tracey Broome said...

Hey Judy, Ron and Laura: all three of you have been great motivators to me to test test test. I have followed Judy and Ron's blogs through all of their endless testing and using Laura's test tiles made things so much simpler. You HAVE to test!! and record what you do :)

FetishGhost said...

LOVE that pallet!
That sig looks fantastic on your houses.

DirtKicker Pottery said...

The test tiles came out awesome. I love your houses. The rustic finish is fantastic.

Ron said...

Right on! And it certainly paid off.

Patricia Griffin Ceramics said...

Wow, you're rich in test tiles!!! They looks lovely all lined up there. The houses look great too. I like 'em with the stain, all weathered looking.