Slip Surface Decoration

Course details

During this four-week course, I’ll introduce you to some fun and simple ways of exploring surface decoration using slips. We’ll focus mainly on imagery, layering and mark-making, exploring how different techniques can transform the surface of your work. All levels welcome! Week One — Paper Resist In the first week, we’ll explore paper resist and how you can create a design using layers of slip. By applying and peeling away paper to reveal the layers beneath, you can create bold, graphic designs with clean edges and contrasting colours. Week Two — Mono Printing In the second week, we’ll delve into a few different mono-printing techniques. This is a wonderful way of creating unique, painterly and print-like qualities on your surface. We’ll experiment with layering, mark-making and transferring imagery. Week Three — Water Etching In the third week, we’ll explore the amazing technique of water etching. Using Tyvek and/or wax, we’ll create raised designs and textures on the surface of your work. It’s a beautiful and simple technique that allows you to create subtle relief and texture. Week Four — Bringing It All Together By the fourth week, you’ll have an understanding of all three techniques and you are free to create a small vessel or continue developing those techniques. You can combine and overlap the different processes, or focus on the technique you particularly love. This course is an opportunity to experiment, play and discover how slips can be used to create layered, graphic, painterly and textured surfaces.