Drawing on the Pre-Enameled Surface
You need:
A pre-enameled piece
A 150 grit Alundum Stone or a grit you perfer or you may use an glass etching solution such as Armour Etch
Water
Kiln
Firing Fork
Trivet
Firing Rack
Graphite Pencil
Soft Fusing Clear Enamel
Safety Equipment
This process is so simple and fun! The effects are dramatic and inspiring.
Use all of the normal safety percautions when working with metal and enamels.
You begin with a surface that you have counter-enameled and enameled. You can use any color enamel for the counter but for the top of the piece you may need to use a light value enamel so that the drawing is visible.
Begin by abrading the enamel of the top of the piece by rubbing it with the Alundum stone under running water or by applying a glass etching solution (etching solutions are a health concern, please use with caution and follow all directions and safety information stated by the manufactor).
Wash the surface and check to see that the surface is mat. When using an Alundum stone rinse and check frequently. You will want to rub the stone only on the areas that remain glossy. When using the glass etching solution check after five minutes.
After the surface is mat, clean the surface and from this point forward only handle the piece by its edges.
When the surface is mat, clean and dry; you are ready to draw. Just pick up your pencil and create! Draw whatever image you want, you can develop the drawing just as you would on paper, you can even erase.
Once the drawing is complete you are ready to fire it in the kiln. I fired mine in a 1500 degree kiln for about 1 minute. You just want to set the graphite. You will know it is ready by the re-glossing of the mat surface. Check your work!
After removing the piece from the kiln and allowing it to cool, you can decide to protect the drawing with a very thin coat (one-grain deep) of soft-fusing clear enamel. Then you may add color. I found that using water-color enamels worked best for this since leaving the drawn piece in the kiln too long (sometimes bringing other enamels to maturity) will result in the lost of the drawing.
Hope you try it and have fun, Dianne
