The Path of Ceramics: From Clay to Craft

The Path of Ceramics: From Clay to Craft 1.The molder makes a mold into which the slurry mixture is to be poured. 2.The slurry mixture consists of ceramic mass, water, and sodium bicarbonate, with some liquid glass. The item is modeled by hands. 3.The mold absorbs moisture from the slurry mixture: it takes 1-3 hours to solidify. After that, the item is taken out of the mold. 4.Ceramicists use special knives to eliminate all seams and gates. The item is "washed" with wet sponges in order to get rid of minor defects and to polish it. 5. The item undergoes its first firing at 800°C (1472°F) for 40 mins. All hazardous alloys and organic compounds evaporate. 6. After the first firing, the item is then dipped in magenta solution to reveal invisible voids and cracks. Each and every item has to go through this magenta control stage. 7. 8. Now it is time for the second firing. All items that are meant to have overglaze painting or decals go through this second firing at 1220°C (2228°F) max. If necessary, relief decoration is applied before the second firing. .The item is immersed into a container with glaze. Excess glaze is wiped out brush or a sponge. The glaze dries up very quickly (in less than 20 sec) at room temperature. ith a 1. An approved design of the relief pattern is drawn on the unfired surface using a stencil. 2.The relief design is scratched out on the surface using a metal quill. Excess glaze is removed. 3. The item is decorated with ceramic paints, metal salts, and color glaze using a brush. Relief Decoration 4. The item goes through the second firing at 1220°C (2228°F) max. 5. After this firing, the ceramic items return to the artist's table to be accentuated with gold. After that, the item goes through the third- and the final - firing. L.A half-finished item returns to the artist's table after the second firing. Overglaze painting is executed in accordance with an approved design pattern. 2. Artists use special overglaze ceramic paints. Accentuation with gold means drawing contour lines on items with paints that contain precious metals (10 percent gold or platinum). Overglaze Painting 3. The item is ready for the final firing at 680°C max. 1.A designer draws an image. 2. The image is printed using silk-screen printing machines. 3.Once the decal image is ready, it is soaked in water to make it soft, and then applied to an item that underwent two Applying Decals firings. 4. The ceramic item goes through the final firing where the decal image is baked into the glaze. This happens at 700 - 800 °C (1292 - 1472°F) max. 小