Preparation

Prepare bisque for decoration by sanding lightly if needed and wiping with sponge and water.

Center the plate on a banding wheel and pencil in a 1” frame around the plate, followed by a 2” band for placing the personalized message. Center the pattern on the plate and transfer the design. Next add the personalizing.

Filigrana application

Take about a tablespoon of Filigrana out onto the palette. Add water to achieve a skim milk consistency. Load the liner brush and begin with the feet. Apply one coat to back and 2/3 to the top. This gives you the dimension you are seeking for the entire design. Continue by base coating the body (not the wing). If the product is not applying smoothly, this means you will need to thin it more. A few light layers are better than one heavy layer. Too heavy an application will result in cracks when the Filigrana is drying.

When applying feathers, start with the large underneath tail feathers and work forward. Alternate the application starting with the underneath feathers first. Do not work feathers on top of each other or next to each other without allowing drying time or they will not hold their shape. Continue applying layers until you achieve a satisfactory 3-demensional design. Use your sgraffito tool to define layers or edges if necessary. Frame the design by applying 2 coats of Filigrana checks around the edge of the plate.

Engobe decoration

The Engobes are used in wash (50/50 mixture) for the first application then followed with another 1 or 2 more coats.

• Canary Yellow to the body, wing and neck feathers. Fully load the shader brush with Canary Yellow then corner load with Sahara Sand to shade the body. Enhance that with Toasted coffee.
• Water load and side load the shader brush with Terra di Siena and enhance the wing feathers starting at the bottom and working upward. The long wing feather is a wash of Indigo followed by a side load application of the same.
• Apply a wash coat of Tangerine Red to the neck and head feathers followed by a second coat of the same. Shade the edges with Dark Red followed by and enhancement of Toasted Coffee.
• Block in the wattles and comb with Tangerine Red followed by side load shading of Dark Red then enhanced with Toasted Coffee.
• The beak and feet are base coated with Sahara Sand shaded with Terra di Siena and enhanced with Toasted Coffee. Also ground the Rooster with a wash of Toasted Coffee around and below feet.
• Starting with the large tail feathers apply 1 wash coat of Indigo, without washing the brush side load with indigo and shade the outer edges of these feathers. The next layer of feathers has 2 coats of Green Pea and then shade the outer edge with Indigo. The top feathers are base coated with Tangerine Red then shaded with Dark Red and enhanced with Toasted Coffee.
• Water load then side load the shader with Light Brown and wash a shadow around the Rooster design.
• Thin the Detailing Black and Detailing Brown, mix together, using the liner add a fine line detail to the design. Add a Black eye and add the detail to the feet and beak.  With the same mixture fill in the personalized lettering.
• Place the piece on a banding wheel to apply a band of Dark Red about ½” in from the edge.
• For the border, load the shader with Indigo and add 2 rows of checkered bands. With the handle of the brush enhance the border with a dot of Indigo between each square. Add a band of Indigo around the edge of the plate.
• Load the slip-trailing bottle with Filigrana and embellish the Dark Red band with three rows of small dots.

Firing

For best results it is necessary to fire this piece before glazing to set the Filigrana and Engobes. Slowly fire to cone 06.

Glazing

Apply 2 good coats of Transparent Glaze to the entire plate. Be careful not to allow the glaze to puddle round the design.  “hobby” foot the bottom of the plate.

Firing

Again fire slowly to witness cone 06 with a 20 minute hold.

Products by hobby COLOROBBIA

Technique by  Jean Kristofer