Details of The Transfer-Print Process

Dish Art & Tile
Details of the Transfer-Print on Clay Process
The Majolica Process ~ The Mosaic Process

Starting with a collection of prints, paintings, etc., I cut-out, change and arrange them in collage fashion to create a new image to be transferred onto the raw clay body of the dish art project.
Placing the image on the photo-copier as usual, I start the machine. As soon as the copier transfers the image onto paper, BUT before it heat sets, I turn off the copier .
I open the copier and carefully retrieve the copy with the image intact (total image in powder form). Then, being careful not to touch the powder, I place the paper, image side down, onto the raw (not wet, not dry) clay body.
Rubbing the back of the paper transfers the image to the clay. The piece then needs to dry thoroughly. Some changes can be accomplished easily when dry, by gently rubbing out what you do not want.
The piece is placed in a kiln & bisque fired It can be handled after the firing since the iron oxide powder has fused to the ceramics. The layer of iron oxide is so thin that any tinting or glazing has to be THIN.
To glaze the piece with image intact I add water to a clear glaze to the consistency of about 2% skim milk. I also add a little red iron oxide and some yellow stain for a golden tint. Glaze in 2 to 3 THIN coats, then high fire.

Click here for details of the Majolica Process

Copyright © 2005 by Wendy Allen all rights reserved.