TERRAS SIGILLATAS AND COLLOIDAL SLIPS

                          (LOW AND MEDIUM TEMPERATURE)

                                               ONLINE COURSE: 20 HOURS

INTRODUCTION

This course will be an introduction to colloidal slips, in particular, to those known as Terra Sigillata.

We will look at the technique without judgment, in a neutral way, like a sculptor or painter who wants to finish their piece in a natural way. If we take into account that clay is one of the most abundant and accessible materials in nature, we have a sense when we are modeling and painting how close we are to nature.

In this course, we will explain and share knowledge from the most basic levels, starting from antiquity, and reaching modern day techniques..

We will divide our time between didactic teaching, making tests and letting each student experiment, so that each person can learn their own methods, with their own materials. We will also talk about sales and how to market.

PROGRAM:

GENERAL OBJECTIVES:

Learn about technique, practice, characteristics, and mastery of Terra Sigillatas and Colloides Slip, and develop decorative techniques.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

• Knowledge of different types of clays, Sigillata, and with other clay techniques.
• Preparation of the clay and mixes for Terra Sigillatas (polishing and shining).
• Exploring different types of chemical deflocculates, to treat the clay, in particular, sodium hexametafosphate.
• Processing and making Sigillatas, learning its characteristics, and different ways to work with it.
• Applying the technique to clay, and finding and making colors.
• Coloring the Sigillatas with ceramic pigments (oxides and colorants), and a demonstration of working with soluble salts.
• Knowledge and practice in application (immersion, painting, and air spray)
• Knowledge and development of decorative techniques (resist, esgraffito, sponge, stencils, marmolling, bubble , brush, etc.)

PROGRAM DETAILS:

DAY 1:

• PRESENTATION
• OUTINE OF COURSE
• PRESENTATION OF MATERIALS WE WILL USE IN THE COURSE
• PHOTO PRESENTATION OF CLAYS
• PREPARATION OF TILES FOR TRIALS
• QUESTIONS AND PROPPOSALS FOR THE COURSE

DAY 2:

• SIGILLATA, DEFINITION AND SAMPLES
• DOSSIER OF THE CLASS
• PREPARATION OF THE CLAY
• PREPARATION OF SIGLATTAS (DEFLOCULATION)
• PHOTOS

DAY 3:

• USE OF CLAY FROM THE DAY BEFORE
• THE APPLICATION OF DIFFERENT CLAYS
• TEST SAMPLES

DAY 4:

• ADDING COLORS WITH OXIDES AND PIGMENTS
• COLORS BASED ON SALTS

DAY 5:  23 May)

• DECORATION TECHNIQUES WITH SIGILATTAS
• EXAMINING PAST COLOR SAMPLES

DAY 6:

• ANALYZING RESULTS
• REVIEW OF THE COURSE

TERRA SIGILLATAS:

ONLINE COURSE: 20 HOURS

COURSE MATERIALS:

We will discuss materials the first day of the course, and I will demonstrate how to we will use them, and explain where to find them.

Here is a detailed list, divided in 2 parts: the first, those materials mandatory to have for the course; and the second, those which have substitutions.

MANDATORY MATERIALS:

• 2 types of clay: 1) stoneware with grog, without any colorants, 2) low temperature terracotta. (10-12 kilos of each)

IMPORTANT!! Have these ready the first days of the class.

• Hexamatafosphate sodium, to be used as a defloculant. (you can substitute this, but not with the same result.)
• Your own kiln to fire the samples (observing time to fire and make the samples)
• Local clay to make samples (200mgs)
• A scale to measure quantities of clay.
• 1 liter measuring cup

NECESSARY MATERIALS:

• Small digital scale
• Recycled water bottles-1.5 liters, and 1 4-5 liter bottle
• White clay, i.e. ball clay, to color the sigillata, 2 kilos.
• Paint brushes, fine hairs
• Plastic buckets
• 1 liter cooking pots, and 1 bigger pot
• A stove for boiling the sigillatas
• A wooden plank to kneed the clay
• Oxides and pigments (cobalt, green, etc.)
• Plastic glasses
• Masking tape, straws, dishwashing soap
• Rolling pins
• Newspaper
• Credit cards (recycled)
• Magic marker
• Kitchen strainer (80-100)
• Rain water, or de-mineralized water
• Cotton rags, to polish