Skip to main content

Olmec Inspired Personal Work

Here are some examples of how the Olmec influenced my work this past month. These pieces have coated with terra sigillata and then fired to cone 04 and then pit fired.






Here is a recipe for Terra Sigillata from Clay Arts Utah: http://clayarts.websitetoolbox.com/post/easy-terra-sigillata-recipe-1507600 

Recipe for Terra Sigillata

- 10 lbs. dry powdered ball clay (although you can use any dry clay).
- approximately 14 quarts water. Ideally use distilled or filtered water but water out of the tap is fine.
- 1/2 oz. soda ash and 1/2 oz. sodium silicate. Both of these ingredients are very inexpensive but you can substitute 1 oz. Calgon. Sodium silicate comes as a liquid but you weigh the liquid the same as you would a powder.
Use a 10 gallon bucket for mixing. Dissolve the deflocculants (soda ash and sodium silicate) in one cup on hot water. Once dissolved, mix into 14 quarts water and then mix in the clay. Mix using your hand or some type of mixer. If you have a hydrometer it should read about 1.15 specific gravity after it is mixed. Once mixed, put the mixture on a table and leave UNDISTURBED for 20 hours.


After the 20 hours the larger heavier particles have settled to the bottom of the bucket. The terra sigillata is the uppermost, thinnest liquid in the bucket. Use a flexible clear plastic hose to siphon off the thin liquid into another bucket. Make sure you don't agitate the mixture or move the container at any time during the process. Siphon from the top of the bucket and not the bottom. Try to keep the siphon hose tip barely immersed in the mixture - this makes it easier to tell when you begin to reach the thicker material. As soon as you start reaching the thicker material, STOP siphoning. You should have approximately 11-12 quarts of terra sigillata. The thicker material left remaining in the bucket should be thrown away.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

"Small Favors" Show in Philly

  Well I will be back in my art school hometown of Philadelphia ( or my work will be anyways ) April 11- June 2, 2024 at the The Clay Studio.  This is a fun show where the work has to fit in a 4" square clear box that hangs on the wall. It's a fan favorite and will not let you down. Please come out for the opening April 11 from 5-8pm. I will have one of my porcelain wood fired hearts hanging on the wall for all to see. The Clay Studio 1425 N American Street Philadelphia, PA 19122 215-925-3453 https://www.theclaystudio.org

Come see me at the Eldorado Studio Tour

The Eldorado studio tour is just two weeks away!!! I'll be at studio #29. Sept 21-22 10am-5pm. The Preview Gallery is open Friday Sept 20 from 5-7pm. 1 Hacienda Loop Eldorado in Santa Fe  Nicole Merkens Art & Design www.nicolemerkens.com Insta:  @artgirl253 Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/nicolemerkensart

Manifesting my Dream

Well I'm writing to you from the cutest little casita off of Canyon Road in Santa Fe, NM. We took a chance and followed a dream that's been in the works for 30+ years for me. It's time for adventure. I am now a Southwest girl ; make that a southwest cowgirl! Please follow along to see what this life path has in store . I'm super excited and very grateful to be here.  Misspelt from my iPhone Nicole Merkens Art & Design www.nicolemerkens.com 404-667-3162 Insta:  @artgirl253 Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/nicolemerkensart