Colored clay murrini techniques (similar to neriage or nerikomi) have been around for a long time. And lucky for us, we now have a gigantic range of colors to choose from because of the availability of stains and various oxides, which are easily acquired through ceramics suppliers. Chris Campbell has been working with colored pottery clay for twenty years and, as she puts it, has not "come close to trying everything I want to do...there always seems to be another question, another idea. It's just so much fun."
Today Chris joins us to help spread the fun with a simple colored clay murrini project. Even though the project only starts with two different colors of pottery clay, by mixing different proportions of the two colors, and arranging the results in different patterns in a loaf, surprisingly intricate patterns can be developed. - Jennifer Poellot Harnetty, editor
"Basically, I do what I do because there is nothing else that fascinates and challenges me as much as colored porcelain. I've been working with it for 20 years and still have not come close to trying everything I want to do ... there seems to always be another question, another idea. It's just so much fun." Colored clay murrini techniques have been in use since the times of the Ancient Egyptians. Yet, even with this deep history, very few Western ceramicists try using colored clay other than in single-toned clay slips. They seem to favor glazes that hide the surface of the pot, rather than using techniques that expose the clay. You can find some agate wares and sprigging, but colored clays are not part of many potters "tool kits."
The Murrini Process
1. Make two doorstop shaped wedges of the different colors and line them up thickest end to thinnest end as shown in this image. You can slice this now squared loaf into as many slices as you want. Fewer slices will result in bolder color changes. Ifyou want softer and more gradual color changes, cut more slices.
2. When you remove the slices you must number each one so you will remember which order they were in. This is the most important step. DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!
3. Knead each slice until the colors are blended to your satisfaction, then set them aside AFTER NUMBERING EACH ONE AGAIN. At this point I would make a small test disc of each color and fire it to be sure I liked the results. You do not want to put all the work into a patterned loaf only to find out the colors are wrong.
4. Roll out each ball of colored clay and cut them to the same width and thickness using a simple cardboard template. You will be using half of the pieces to create a simple striped loaf and saving the other pieces for later.
5. Place the pieces on your worktable in the order you wish to stack them.
6. For this project, I have brushed a thick black slip between each layer to make a thin line between colors
7. This is my multi-hued striped loaf.
8. Now we will be combining layers of this striped loaf with your reserved colored slices to make an attractive patterned loaf. The first thing to do is to cut the striped loaf into even slices using two identical boards or rulers as guidelines for your cutting wire.
9. Place the reserved solid-colored slices and your striped slices on your table in the order you want to use them. The order is strictly up to you.
10. Begin placing the striped slices by measuring and trimming until they match the size of the plain-colored slices. You should note that I have had to cut some in thirds to get the correct size.
11. Alternate the striped slices whimsically with the plain pieces checking to make sure you like the emerging pattern. Use a thin coating of black slip between the layers to create a thin shadow.
12. Tap the finished loaf gently on all sides to ease the slices together. Do not worry about air pockets as you will be able to smooth them out as you use the individual slices.
13. This is my finished stacked loaf. I recommend letting the loaf rest for a day or two before using it to build forms or for decorating.
14. This is a slice off the loaf that I can then use for handbuilding pieces.
It is simple to expand your use of color from boring single tones to the rainbow of hues available through mixing stains into clay. I use Mason Stain colors mixed with Southern Ice Porcelain to create my original designs in very vibrant colors. I mix the Mason stains with just enough water to create a creamy solution. I use my mixer to knead in the stain solution until the color is even throughout the clay body. This can also be done by hand. The finished clay should be soft as cookie dough.
**First published in 2015
FAQs
Nerikomi (often referred to as "neriage") is a decorative process established in Japan that involves stacking colored clay and then slicing through the cross section to reveal a pattern, which can then be used as an applied decoration.
What is the art of making beautiful things using clay called? ›
Pottery is the process and the products of forming vessels and other objects with clay and other raw materials, which are fired at high temperatures to give them a hard and durable form.
What is the technique of shaping clay objects by compressing the clay between the thumb and fingers? ›
o Pinching: The technique of shaping clay objects by compressing the clay between the fingers and the thumb.
What is the Japanese clay technique? ›
Kuri Nuki is a traditional Japanese form of handbuilding. The word means 'carving out' and it involves shaping a solid block of clay, then carving out a vessel to create 'interior space'. It is a more sculptural approach to making and the interior of the piece is just as important as the exterior.
What art technique is used for clay? ›
Sculpting: Sculpting is the process of shaping and carving the clay by hand or using various tools. This technique allows for a high degree of detail and is commonly used for creating figurines, busts, and other intricate forms. Sculpting requires patience, practice, and a keen eye for proportions and form.
What are the two methods of creating patterns in art? ›
There are three main methods of pattern making - drafting, which uses measurements to draw construction lines on paper; draping, where fabric is draped on a form to create patterns; and flat pattern making, which develops basic sloper patterns that can then be manipulated for different designs.
What are the three basic clay techniques? ›
There are three main methods for working with clay, as Katie Mudd explains. A ceramicist can use wheel throwing (which is the primary technique Katie uses to create her pieces), hand building, and slipcasting.
What is making clay art called? ›
The word ceramics comes from the Greek word keramos, "potter's clay," or "tiles." Definitions of ceramics. noun. the art of making and decorating pottery. type of: art, artistic creation, artistic production.
What is clay modelling called? ›
Clay modelling is the most recognized form of sculpting clay. The creation of a three-dimensional art piece typically uses some specific types of clay, such as plastilina, which is an oil-based clay, self-hardening clay, ceramic and pottery clay, wax, and other polymer-based materials.
What is the art of making objects from clay and decorating them? ›
Pottery is the art and craft of creating objects from clay by shaping and firing them at high temperatures in a kiln. Pottery has been practiced by humans for thousands of years and has played an important role in human history, culture, and society.
A wide range of tools and materials are used in clay modeling, such as sculpting tools, blending tools, and pottery tools. Techniques in clay sculpting include hand building, wheel throwing, coiling, and pinching. Texturing techniques can be used to add depth and visual interest to clay sculptures.
What is the technique for working with clay? ›
The three methods of handbuilding are pinching, coiling and slab building. Once you have experience with these three methods, you can make just about any object out of clay. It helps to start with pinching, and build upon the technique with coiling, before moving onto to slab construction.
What is the Japanese clay firing technique? ›
The Raku technique is essentially when glazed ceramics are taken from the kiln while they are still glowing red hot and are then placed in a material that would be able to catch fire, such as sawdust or newspaper. This technique is used to starve the piece of oxygen, which creates a myriad of colors within the glaze.
What is the Wabi Sabi pottery technique? ›
The Japanese art of Kintsugi repairs broken pottery with gold, to highlight its beauty and imperfections – a philosophy that shines as a metaphor for life.
What is the Japanese clay marbling technique? ›
Marbleized clay (neriage) ceramics are made by layering or combining different colors of clay. A wide variety of patterns can be produced depending on how the clays are combined, with the cross-sections of the finished pattern appearing on the surface of the piece.
What is kurinuki technique? ›
Kurinuki translates in Japanese 'to hollow' and is a traditional technique to make pottery from carving away from a single block of clay. Hollowing out clay in this way is a slow and meditative process that produces truly unique one-of-a-kind ceramics that can never be repeated.
