Acorn Stoneware Pie Plate

Special Note: When work with the EZ-Strokes color over an unfired glaze type surface, try not to apply the colors too heavily. Heavy color application will sometime cause the color the blister on the glaze surface during firing, There for blend out all heavy ridges of color.

1. Check the ware over for any blemishes, if present sand them off with 100-grit sandpaper.
2. Damp sponge the ware to condition for decorating and to remove any fired dust or dirt from the ware’s surface.
3. Place approximately 2 ounces of Really White into a paper and thin slightly with a few drop of water.
4. Using the #8 Soft Fan apply three very smooth coats of the Really White to inside and side of the ware. Do not apply any glaze to the bottom of the ware. Also leave ¼” from the bottom upward without any Concept color.
5. Allow ware to dry 24-hours.
6. Using the Clay Carbon, provided pattern and pen/pencil trace the pattern onto the center of the ware. Try not to score the ware when tracing.
7. Place the EZ-Stroke Colors on the palette as need and if color is extremely thick add a few drops of water.
8. The leaves are blending of the EZ-Strokes that have been loaded on to the #4 or #6 Pointed, side loaded with another color and tip in a third. Work from the rounded tip of each segment back towards the base of the leaf. Strokes should overlap one another and the overlapping should be blended out. One coat should be sufficient for coverage. However, a second thin application of colors may be applied if the need arises.
9. Here are a few examples of color loading for the leaves. Be sure to change the colors and two toned leaves can be created Use the color photograph as a guide.
   1. Load with Chartreuse, side load with Leaf Green and tip with Ivy Green
   2. Load with Yellow Orange, side load with Poppy Orange and tip with Passion Red
   3. Load with Poppy Orange, side load with Passion Red tip with Yellow Orange
   4. Load with Yellow Orange, tip in Leaf Green and tip again in Ivy Green
   5. If desired Sienna Brown may be added to some the red/orange leaves.
   6. Any combinations of colors will work, however be careful with the reds with the greens, this combination can muddy out and turn brownish.
10. The bottom section of the four acorns are blocked in with a thin coat of Yellow Orange, using the #8 Flat Shader. When applying the color follow the contour of the acorn. Allow to set before proceeding.
11. Using the #4 Pointed Round block in the tops of acorn’s with two thin coats of Sienna Brown. The single acorn cap should be painted in as well.
12. Reload #8 Flat Shader with the Yellow Orange and corner load on the same corner of the brush with Poppy Orange and Passion Red. Working with the flat of the brush shade the two darker colors under the Sienna Brown cap and down the left side of each acorn bottom section. Rinse the brush.
13. Corner load with #8 Flat Shader with Chartreuse and float the color down the right side of acorn’s bottom section.
14. Corner load the #8 Flat Shader with French Brown and float in shading to the top edge of the all the caps and to the middle section of the cap only to the right of the design.
15. Thin down the French Brown slightly, with the #10/0 Liner fully loaded begin to detail the entire design.
    1. Outline and vein the leaves
    2. Outline the acorns and add the cross-hatching to the top of the caps.
    3. Pull in the stems
    4. Sign the piece.
16. Place the pie plate on the turntable and center it.
17. Thin down Poppy Orange slightly and dampen the 1” foam brush with water.
18. Fully load one side of the foam brush with the thinned Poppy Orange. Proceed to band the edge of the pie plate with the loaded foam brush. Several passes will be needed, since the foam brush has a tendency to remove damp color.
19. Using an old tooth brush with French Brown spatter the entire inside of pie plate.
20. Place ware on a kiln washed kiln shelf and fire to cone 6.