Inside/Outside Stripes

摘要

One way to have a striped surface pattern that carries through from the inside to the outside of a form is to work with colored clays. Open shapes ranging from plates to bowl forms show the pattern best. To make this striped form, mix two to three or more balls of smooth white clay with metallic oxides or ceramic stains. As a starting guide for adding color, use one tablespoon of stain to a pound of clay (always wear gloves when working with stains or oxides). The easiest way to mix in the colorant is to put a depression in the ball of clay, pour in a tablespoon of water, sprinkle in the colorant, add water as needed, and mix completely to eliminate any lumps. Wedge the wet colorant into the clay until there are no streaks and the color looks uniform. Store the colored clay balls in a plastic bag for a few hours to allow moisture to distribute evenly.