Texture - Playful Ways with Enamel
- Details
- Parent Category: Projects from Journal Back Copies
- Category: Projects 2009
Kathleen Kay
I am assuming, of course, that nearly all Guild enamellers will have spent most of our rather cold winter close to a hot kiln; happily producing enamels for Carol's theme of Texture ..... I am hoping to encourage everyone to enamel some texture even if not attending Conference.
In the previous Journal I suggested ways for beginners to use copper shim, mesh and wire to form a textured foundation, but, for embedding decorative media, standard copper blanks or copper sheet are ideal to form a firm base. Counter-enamelled, and with a fired base coat, it just needs a second sifting using transparent enamels on the front to hold in place for firing any choice of your decorative goodies. W. G. Ball supplies lumps of 'cracked' enamel, approx. 7mm; 'crushed' enamel, approx. 3 mm; and 'crystal' enamel smaller still; all of mixed colours. Being lead free, the enamel is harder and will retain some shape when briefly fired into place in a soft transparent base. Very playful. Enamel threads, millefiori, glass mosaics and glass beads can be arranged a little more carefully.