Tags
blue, cloisonne, january, liquid clay, liquid polymer, painting, polymer clay, Scottish Polymer Clay Guild, scrap clay, starry night
The Scottish Polymer Clay Guild has started a monthly themed challenge. For January the theme is “Blue”. I decided to make a mini painting – my idea was faux basse-taille meets Van Gogh’s “Starry Night”.
While I am happy enough with the colours and the image, unfortunately the metallic effect has largely been lost. I used a base of scrap clay and dusted it with silver powder, then I applied liquid polymer with added alcohol inks. I think my mistake was that I didn’t bake the base before adding the liquid clay so the metallic powder lifted and got mixed in with the glaze.
“January Blue” by Cate van Alphen
Polymer Clay, 6.5cm x 5.5cm
After it was baked I tried to clarify the liquid clay glaze by using a heat gun. Sadly this did not improve it much and caused blisters to appear. I’m not sure if the heat gun was too hot, too close or used too long. Does anyone have any advice?
Fulgorine 
I like your painting! I hate it when people who don’t know anything give advice, but that’s what I’m going to do! Can you just heat it up again, say at 200F, and scrape off the blisters? I’ve been reading about gilders paste. If you want a metallic effect, why not spread on a little gilders paste?
I was trying to get a metallic effect from under the glaze, but adding gilders paste at this point would help to highlight the ridges.
Love it, how did you etch out the design?
For some areas I added clay (like the tree) and others I (sort of) carved down and out using a set of ball stylus tools. When I was finished I cut the edges straight as moving the clay had caused them to flow out.
I love this piece, very middle of the night in January! I’ve had the same problem with the blisters. I am not sure what causes them because it doesn’t happen all the time. I read somewhere that using acrylic paints will cause them because of the water content. the water starts boiling from the heat and causes air pockets and blisters, Maybe that is somehow related to the alcohol inks. I’d sure would love to know the answer to that riddle.
Strangely it didn’t blister in the oven (perhaps the heat gun was hotter?). I’ve also had it happen when using clear liquid as a glaze over metal leaf. It does seem irritatingly random!
You can use mica powders in future floor wax and add them to the top. The blisters came from the heat gun not the oven. I think it is really beautiful just the way it is.
You may want to try this, when using the heat gun, make fast fanning movements with the gun’s point, so the heath won’t applied in just one spot, and when you see anything suspicious stop. Big hugs from Venezuela!
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