Experimenting with Carefree Lustres
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- Parent Category: Technical Articles from Journal Back Copies
- Category: Technical Articles 2005
Ellen Goldman's Tutorial Workshop
Helen Burke
After a one or two wrong turns and interesting detours on route, I finally made it to my very first Guild of Enamellers conference at Keele. Having downed a very welcome cup of coffee, registered, and found my room, I made my way to the exhibition and Art Attack workshop. At last, a face I knew! Dorothy Cockrell greeted me, and asked if I would do a write up of the workshop I was going to on the Saturday! What could I say? So, here for all who did not attend it is the Art of Experimenting with Carefree Lustres, as taught by Ellen Goldman.
The first lustres to appear on pottery and glass were based on reduction of metallic components in the glaze, or on oxidation by addition of metallic vapours to the furnace during firing. Both methods were not only difficult, but also hazardous.
In 1963, a totally new class of lustres came on the market, developed by the chemists of Dupont. They are based upon fine particles of mica, with titanium dioxide and/or iron oxide. The pigments are non-toxic, and they are widely used in cosmetics (eye-shadows, lipsticks and even toothpastes). The workshop was about using these new lustres.
