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Common Problems with Bisque-ware This month we are going to try to cover some of the most common problems that occur with ceramic bisque pieces. The most common problem we are asked about is bisque that will not take paint in spots. If you are painting with stains you could spray the item with a few coats of porcelain spray sealer, let dry thoroughly and then finish painting your piece. If you are painting with under-glazes you can sand the area lightly with a fine grade sandpaper, this will allow the under-glaze to adhere to the item. Another problem we find people come across when buying bisque from auctions is that some businesses may not have standards as high as what most of us would consider acceptable. When this happens you receive your item that you wanted to glaze except it is discolored in spots or it is yellowish brown in color. There are two possible causes for this, the first
is that your item had been stored in a damp location and
mold spores have begun to grow in spots on your piece.
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Boothe Mold Co. Nowell Mold Co. Duncan Mold Co. |
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Eyelashes 101
For beginners
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Eyelashes 101 Eyes can make or break your piece, but with some good advice and lots of practice you can master these techniques and produce beautiful items for all to appreciate. |
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 Start painting your lashes with a fine tapered bristles. Make sure your paint is thinned out If you have trouble finishing eyes we suggest you spray your item with a few coats of sealer after painting the background of the eye white. If you make a mistake you can then wipe it off with a damp clothe and start over.. |
If you already have mastered eyes, then your next step is lashes. My best advise to you is
You must keep this brush clean and
always pointed. Do not allow paint to build up on your brush. Place
your brush on the line above the eyes (what would be eyeliner on
your own eyes). Follow the line around the top of the eye and then
flick your lash out. It helps if you steady your arm on your work
table and keep your hand steady by resting your "pinkie" finger on
the piece you are painting.
After making your first lash, clean and point your brush again, and then follow the same line as before making your second lash. Continue until you have the full set of lashes finished. Always remember to vary the length of the lashes to keep them looking natural. Most people find that
if you get one eye finished the other eye seems like you are working
backwards. It helps if you turn your piece upside down to finish the
second eye. My only other advise is practice, practice, practice and
then practice some more.
If you have trouble doing eyes I suggest
that you finish your face and then paint the background of the eye
white. At this point spray the face with a few light coats of
sealer. Now you can proceed with painting the eyes and lashes. If
you make a mistake you can wipe it off with a damp clothe and start
over.
Dolly Swaldi All rights reserved. |
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 Follow the line around the top of the eye and flick your lashes out. Vary the length of your lashes to keep them looking natural. |
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 It helps to turn your piece upside down to finish the second eye. Most people find that working on the second eye seems like your working backwards. |
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 My only other advice is practice, practice, and then practice some more. Eyelashes are just as hard if not harder to master than painting the eyes themselves. |
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of this venerable craft.
Copyright [c] 2006
Dolly & Ernie Ceramics.com
all rights reserved.
You may link to, or publish this article in parts or in its entirety. Our only stipulation is that an emboldened link to our web site be placed into the copied material. Click here for the html code that will provide a link to our site.
About the Author:
Dolly Swaldi is the proprietor of this web site
and has
been involved in the ceramic craft for over 28 years.