“As a production potter, I have multiple pieces and screens to print in an assembly line fashion. My production schedule is throwing, trimming, handles, finishing with screening, sgraffito, color, bisque and glaze firing.” – Elaine Lamb owner of Mud Mothers Pottery with artist assistant, Alison Fawcett.
Items needed: newsprint tablet paper, Mayco Fundamentals Underglaze color of choice, AC-310 Silkscreen Medium.
Mix Mayco underglaze with AC-310 to a thickness of printers ink with a palette knife or whisk to smooth consistency.
Make a slip from your own clay mixed with water, whisk smooth or use an immersion blender to make a thick cream consistency.
Now you are ready to make silk screen transfers. Put screen smooth side down on paper, load screen with a line of ink above the image using a palette knife. Hold the top of the screen with your fingers so it does not slip. Elaine uses newsprint tablet paper; available at any art supply store.
Use an old credit card as a squeegee, pick up enough ink with the card and pull down over image.
Lift screen, repeat the process to make more prints.
After the print is dry cut apart images and store for later use.
Add color to image before printing on clay. Brush Mayco underglaze to the top of the image to highlight parts of the print.
To transfer the print onto clay use the slip you made from your clay, using a soft brush apply one thin coat of slip on top of the print.
Brush slip on the leather hard clay where you want to print the image.
When the slip is dull but not dry the image is ready to print. Place the image face down on the piece.
Rub the back of the image carefully with a soft rubber rib making sure the paper attaches to the clay.
Rub the image with a firmer rib tool.
Pick up a corner to see if the image has transferred.
Carefully pull the paper back to be sure the image has transferred.
The finished transfer and a fired and glazed completed tray.
Use these transfer techniques to screen neatly on round pots, mugs, and bowls as well as flat trays.