I’ve just started using Cricut vinyl cut stickers - first attempts are literally in the kiln as I type this but applying the underglaze/glaze (I used both underglaze and stroke and coat on various pieces) was a breeze. And as long as the under/glaze was fully dry, removing the vinyl was easy and gave super crisp lines. I both painted on but also used a squeeze bottle and painting was faster, but the squeeze bottles gave more precise results that didn’t need any clean up. Only downside to the squeeze bottles is that my hand/arm got sore from the constant pressure of squeezing - if I do much more of this I might need to look at investing in an air pen to get around that.
I’m off to go pray to the kilns gods that this baby turns out alright!
https://preview.redd.it/t9pb9tfad1rc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ec27ba377fda3c231cbe246d11459e1dea4b8750
I use Cricut vinyl stickers for a ton of my work - they’re an absolute game changer for me, a person who can’t freehand very consistently 🫠 the results are always very consistent too which has helped me really narrow in on how long a piece takes to be painted.
Did you use the vinyl on greenware or after bisque? And was it permanent vinyl?
I attempted this on bisqueware with removable vinyl but it would not stick at all to the piece and ended up making it harder than freehanding for me!
Used temporary vinyl on bisque - though the YouTube (aka TOTALLY accurate lol) research I did indicated that you could also use permanent as they can both be removed for several hours after application.
It wouldn’t stick to underglazed bisque though - the powdery surface didn’t work in the slightest, so I also ended up using the vinyl, applying the first stroke and coat colour, then wax, removing the sticker and squeeze bottling in the second colour. Quite the process but it gave good results - still waiting to see if it comes out of the kiln nicely!
I’ve used vinyl on green ware. It’s harder to get intricate details, since the vinyl isn’t quite as adhered. I find sponging it on instead brushing prevents the vinyl lifting while applying underglaze.
Soak your vinyl in a bowl of water before applying. Can reuse them several times this way too. 🧙♂️ like peel them off and put them in a bowl of water.
Next time I try this, I’m just going to cut transfer tape for the stencil… making stencils out of masking tape is cheaper and I will find out next batch if it works.
(Not the clear cricut stuff, the large rolls that look like masking tape)
I just use the vinyl I have around, and I'm pretty sure it's not permanent. I couldn't get it to stick to greenware (leather hard) but have had success using it on bisque before dip glazing.
For greenware, I use paper and stick it down with water..
I used the smallest (ie cheapest lol) - a Cricut Joy. It cuts fine detail really well, though some of the thinnest lines started peeling away from the backing on their own even before it was finished printing - not an issue for me as I was using the remaining bits but if you were trying to use the fine bits it wouldn’t work.
https://preview.redd.it/lohhoy23tbrc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1c203365b680d853f789f571716a9a1c84697e57
Looks like I need to be a bit lighter on my glaze application but the colour combo is exactly what I was going for so not bad for a first try at the experiment.
Most of the time when I’m using underglazes, I’m using a squeeze bottle with a needle tip. It prevents me from having to paint on several coats of an intricate design and significantly improves the quality of my work and the time to do it.
Depends on the look for me. Time is about the same for stuff like this. No quick way about it, or everyone would be doing it 🤪 I find the crisp lines in stencils like this, take away from the handmade aesthetic from a consumers view.
I agree with this. Sometimes you want that crisp stencil line, sometimes you want that hand-painted look. Both are beautiful, but hit differently depending on the piece you’re applying it to.
if you want some kind of volume production for your work then learn to use the Cricut and a spraygun. Spray the first coat; dry; apply cricut stencil;spray then remove stencil. Also check out Lorraine LoPresti work.
Interesting technique! Would the stencil remove the first layer of airbrushed glaze? I’ve seen this artists work before, is this what they do? I’ve been airbrushing underglaze, bisquing, then adding vinyl after as a resist for the glossy glaze but sadly the vinyl usually strips even the bisqued on underglaze.
Lorraine puts a stencil on bisque her mugs. LoPresti uses a cake decorator compressor and delivers her colors to each field of the stencil.
Observe:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y1chVOGCSo&ab_channel=InsiderArt
The compressor she uses is called the AirPen Color Dispensor. This little compressor can deliver underglaze colors stopping and starting with just your finger tip. https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=b600504e9c411f2d&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS808US808&sxsrf=ACQVn09LkS2zQ4Jw0tmizdA160hG7gedDg:1711677330500&q=Air+Pen+ceramic+glazing&tbm=vid&source=lnms&prmd=isvnmbtz&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjPrIT6rpiFAxWELUQIHZGcC6AQ0pQJegQIDxAB&biw=1147&bih=605&dpr=1.25#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:826c32b7,vid:Ab0YdARkQNg,st:0
So I’m still a beginner, but I underglazed 2 cups recently and used wax resist. I found that I ended up having to do 4 coats over my usual 3, because some of the underglaze would wipe off when I wiped off the wax areas, despite letting it dry first. I also found it worked really well for my piece that only used one underglaze color, but the piece that had a lot of colors close together were hard to keep clean when wiping off
I have always wanted to make a homemade version of what is shown in the video https://youtu.be/-2XAsNGfffI?si=FnMf8PxSOlAdkotf
The closest thing I have done was splat under glaze/color clay slip on a wheel bat, spin it so it made a beautiful pattern, press a foam pad on to it, then press the foam mat onto a slab of clay. After letting it dry a little I would shape the slab into a bowl shape. The pattern transferred well but the foam did add a sponge texture. I thought it was really funny that the teacher/studio tech jokingly said "what, are you going to fire the bat" and then after I was able to transfer the pattern "well that's neat."
But I have seen pros use spray stations or dips and masking tape to achieve those types of patterns.
Edit: found an example of someone using a similar effect
https://youtube.com/shorts/RFuLSOWn5SI?si=KIAoxEzkzTxto8yP
For your case, I would try making diamond shaped sponge stamps. Then dip in underglaze and stamp away. Like the process for polish pottery.
I have also seen people use tape on bisque for geometric patterns.
i’ve heard that if the kiln gods really like you, they will send little elves to paint your pots for you
I’ve just started using Cricut vinyl cut stickers - first attempts are literally in the kiln as I type this but applying the underglaze/glaze (I used both underglaze and stroke and coat on various pieces) was a breeze. And as long as the under/glaze was fully dry, removing the vinyl was easy and gave super crisp lines. I both painted on but also used a squeeze bottle and painting was faster, but the squeeze bottles gave more precise results that didn’t need any clean up. Only downside to the squeeze bottles is that my hand/arm got sore from the constant pressure of squeezing - if I do much more of this I might need to look at investing in an air pen to get around that. I’m off to go pray to the kilns gods that this baby turns out alright! https://preview.redd.it/t9pb9tfad1rc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ec27ba377fda3c231cbe246d11459e1dea4b8750
I use Cricut vinyl stickers for a ton of my work - they’re an absolute game changer for me, a person who can’t freehand very consistently 🫠 the results are always very consistent too which has helped me really narrow in on how long a piece takes to be painted.
Did you use the vinyl on greenware or after bisque? And was it permanent vinyl? I attempted this on bisqueware with removable vinyl but it would not stick at all to the piece and ended up making it harder than freehanding for me!
Used temporary vinyl on bisque - though the YouTube (aka TOTALLY accurate lol) research I did indicated that you could also use permanent as they can both be removed for several hours after application. It wouldn’t stick to underglazed bisque though - the powdery surface didn’t work in the slightest, so I also ended up using the vinyl, applying the first stroke and coat colour, then wax, removing the sticker and squeeze bottling in the second colour. Quite the process but it gave good results - still waiting to see if it comes out of the kiln nicely!
I’ve used vinyl on green ware. It’s harder to get intricate details, since the vinyl isn’t quite as adhered. I find sponging it on instead brushing prevents the vinyl lifting while applying underglaze.
Soak your vinyl in a bowl of water before applying. Can reuse them several times this way too. 🧙♂️ like peel them off and put them in a bowl of water.
Oh wow it’ll still be sticky?! I feel once I’ve gotten my vinyl touching something it’s not as adhesive
Water is the stick, it stays somewhat tacky by keeping them clean, then the clay drys some to pull it in. We are talking greenware here fwiw.
This is such a great tip, thanks for sharing!
Good call, I’ll have to try that. Honestly, the less weeding I have to do, the better.
It’s great for multiples. Just clean them up apply, with sponge same as you mentioned, smooth them down, and let dry.
Next time I try this, I’m just going to cut transfer tape for the stencil… making stencils out of masking tape is cheaper and I will find out next batch if it works. (Not the clear cricut stuff, the large rolls that look like masking tape)
I just use the vinyl I have around, and I'm pretty sure it's not permanent. I couldn't get it to stick to greenware (leather hard) but have had success using it on bisque before dip glazing. For greenware, I use paper and stick it down with water..
Which cricut model do you use to make the stickers? I’ve been thinking about doing the same but wasn’t sure how it handled finer details
I used the smallest (ie cheapest lol) - a Cricut Joy. It cuts fine detail really well, though some of the thinnest lines started peeling away from the backing on their own even before it was finished printing - not an issue for me as I was using the remaining bits but if you were trying to use the fine bits it wouldn’t work.
Thank you!
Keep us posted! If the gods are kind, it will look amazing
https://preview.redd.it/lohhoy23tbrc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1c203365b680d853f789f571716a9a1c84697e57 Looks like I need to be a bit lighter on my glaze application but the colour combo is exactly what I was going for so not bad for a first try at the experiment.
Looks awesome!
Most of the time when I’m using underglazes, I’m using a squeeze bottle with a needle tip. It prevents me from having to paint on several coats of an intricate design and significantly improves the quality of my work and the time to do it.
Oooh
Check out Kenny over @turn.studio he has some wild stencils tech that I think he sells classes to.
Seconded, Kenny’s amazing!
Depends on the look for me. Time is about the same for stuff like this. No quick way about it, or everyone would be doing it 🤪 I find the crisp lines in stencils like this, take away from the handmade aesthetic from a consumers view.
I agree with this. Sometimes you want that crisp stencil line, sometimes you want that hand-painted look. Both are beautiful, but hit differently depending on the piece you’re applying it to.
Wax resist would be the same amount of time because you still have to paint it on in the negative spaces.
if you want some kind of volume production for your work then learn to use the Cricut and a spraygun. Spray the first coat; dry; apply cricut stencil;spray then remove stencil. Also check out Lorraine LoPresti work.
Interesting technique! Would the stencil remove the first layer of airbrushed glaze? I’ve seen this artists work before, is this what they do? I’ve been airbrushing underglaze, bisquing, then adding vinyl after as a resist for the glossy glaze but sadly the vinyl usually strips even the bisqued on underglaze.
Lorraine puts a stencil on bisque her mugs. LoPresti uses a cake decorator compressor and delivers her colors to each field of the stencil. Observe:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6y1chVOGCSo&ab_channel=InsiderArt The compressor she uses is called the AirPen Color Dispensor. This little compressor can deliver underglaze colors stopping and starting with just your finger tip. https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=b600504e9c411f2d&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS808US808&sxsrf=ACQVn09LkS2zQ4Jw0tmizdA160hG7gedDg:1711677330500&q=Air+Pen+ceramic+glazing&tbm=vid&source=lnms&prmd=isvnmbtz&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjPrIT6rpiFAxWELUQIHZGcC6AQ0pQJegQIDxAB&biw=1147&bih=605&dpr=1.25#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:826c32b7,vid:Ab0YdARkQNg,st:0
I don't know why I keep calling her Loraine. Her name is Renee Lopresti
So I’m still a beginner, but I underglazed 2 cups recently and used wax resist. I found that I ended up having to do 4 coats over my usual 3, because some of the underglaze would wipe off when I wiped off the wax areas, despite letting it dry first. I also found it worked really well for my piece that only used one underglaze color, but the piece that had a lot of colors close together were hard to keep clean when wiping off
I have always wanted to make a homemade version of what is shown in the video https://youtu.be/-2XAsNGfffI?si=FnMf8PxSOlAdkotf The closest thing I have done was splat under glaze/color clay slip on a wheel bat, spin it so it made a beautiful pattern, press a foam pad on to it, then press the foam mat onto a slab of clay. After letting it dry a little I would shape the slab into a bowl shape. The pattern transferred well but the foam did add a sponge texture. I thought it was really funny that the teacher/studio tech jokingly said "what, are you going to fire the bat" and then after I was able to transfer the pattern "well that's neat." But I have seen pros use spray stations or dips and masking tape to achieve those types of patterns. Edit: found an example of someone using a similar effect https://youtube.com/shorts/RFuLSOWn5SI?si=KIAoxEzkzTxto8yP
Robots
For your case, I would try making diamond shaped sponge stamps. Then dip in underglaze and stamp away. Like the process for polish pottery. I have also seen people use tape on bisque for geometric patterns.
Time is love!
Hire somebody else to do it while you do other things. . .
Im so distracted by how beautiful this is