Tia Made: Shellac Embossed and Carved Handbuilt Porcelain Egg

Shellac Embossed and Carved Handbuilt Porcelain Egg

Labels: Carving, Clay Pottery, Clay Projects, Easter, Eggs, Embossing, Porcelain, Shellac Embossing | at 9:01 AM

This egg was a challenge to create as we started building with bevelled canes around a balloonHere is an interior shot of the egg after the bisque firing..I would NEVER attempt this shot with this delicate project until IMMEDIATELY before the bisque firing.

The trick was to make certain that the canes were smoothed out and the exterior was without cracks before the balloon was "popped."

A round cookie cutter was used to cut a "light hole" in the bottom so that it can be lit through the bottom while on a base (that has yet to be designed nor created...YIKES!!)

Then, it was allowed SLOWLY air dry so that it didn't have another chance to form cracks.

Next came the designs to be carved and/or embossed.

The embossing process we used on this project was a first for me...

I filled the design that I wanted to be raised up from the surface of the egg with regular shellac with a fine brush as some of the design is rather intricate.

Then, when it was thoroughly dry, I took warm water and a sponge and began gently rubbing over the shellaced areas in a circular pattern.

After numerous hours of working in 5-10 min spurts, as the porcelain doesn't like getting too wet so you have to let it "dry" before working on another area and my neck causes my hands to go dead numb for hours on end...

TADA!!!! The "embossed" areas began to emerge : )

Now, it is time to paint : )

My teacher declares (regularly) that she believes this to be my favorite part : )

I'm toying with painting this in a reverse Wedgewood theme...

Making the embossed areas blue and the "base" would remain white...

SOOOOO, many people commented on HOW MUCH they loved it with the brown shellac coloring...

I was planning on this being a present for my Momma...she LOVES turquoise...

Well, we'll see what my 2 MOST IMPORTANT advisors have to say...Gregory and Jackson , believe it or not, have ENORMOUS influences on how my projects are completed : )

Thanks for looking!!!!

Please take care and God bless!!! tia : )