Ceramic Arts Daily – Layering and Carving Colored Slips on a Slab-Built Vessel

Curt Benzle explains how to create interesting pattern and texture by carving a slab of layered, colored slip.

Most potters are inclined to think of glaze and underglaze when it comes to adding color to their work. But working with colored clays is a great alternative to glazes and underglazes. With the vast palette available today in commercial stains, it is possible to come up with just about any color in the rainbow. Mixing stains into into a clay body (most effective with a light clay body) appeals to a lot of people because it opens up many opportunities for developing more precise patterning than is possible with glaze.

Today’s video is an excerpt from Curt Benzle’s forthcoming DVD Expanding your Creative Palette with Colored Clay (due out next month). Actually, it is a technique that we really really liked, but just couldn’t fit on the disc! In the clip, Curt demonstrates a simple way to create texture and pattern on a vessel by layering and carving colored slips. – Jennifer Harnetty, editor.

Having trouble watching the video?

Please see our Video FAQ to troubleshoot.

Intrigued by colored clay?
Pre-order your copy of Expanding your Creative Palette with Colored Clay,
available March 2011 in the Ceramic Arts Daily Bookstore!

To learn more about Curt Benzle or see images of his work, please visit http://www.benzleporcelain.com/.

58 Comments on "Pottery Video of the Week: Layering and Carving Colored Slips on a Slab-Built Vessel"

biserka svarc April 13, 2012 at 4:06 pm -

biserka
biserka svarc April 13, 2012 at 4:03 pm -

bravo!
curtis April 15, 2011 at 5:08 pm -

I am very sorry! It didn’t occur to me to check this blog—I thought questions would be directed to my email. It seems that the main question has to do with “blotting”. I use cotton sheeting(polyester does not work). the older the better. It does not take a long time(maybe a couple of minutes. To speed things up use more than one layer of sheeting. I like layering slip because I can manipulate the slip–develop patterns, think and thin areas etc. I would suggest NOT using a heat gun etc as it tends to just dry the surface. Blotting pulls up all the water. If you lift the sheet and the slip comes up just put it back down for a little while longer. I am very glad you all liked the video. If you have any specific questions please feel free to email me at curtisbenzle@gmail.com
stephen April 2, 2011 at 1:20 pm -

It is unfortunate that the online clip did not make it onto the dvd – it is more interesting to me.
Carol March 23, 2011 at 4:22 pm -

I am no longer able to get videos. I have tried all the remedies that you have suggested in FAQ to no avail. If there’s something wrong on this end, I am stumped. Please check on your end…
sandra March 19, 2011 at 4:40 pm -

always been able to watch your video clips have enjoyed the educational aspects of sight a+ for information have not been able to view anything for weeks has your site changed very dissapointed pleast let me know how to remidy this problem
diann March 13, 2011 at 8:59 am -

Thank you for sharing. I would have like to have seen how the piece was joined. Can’t wait to try it.
Jennifer March 1, 2011 at 8:51 am -

Hello readers - We are trying to troubleshoot the problems people were having with sound on this video, but, in order to do so we need, more information. If you were unable to hear the video, please send an email to editor@ceramicartsdaily.org with the following information: your operating system, browser type and version, Shockwave Flash player version, if your browser cache has been cleaned out, if Javascript is limited or disabled on your computer, and your connection speed. These details will help us get to the bottom of the issue. Thank you! Jennifer Harnetty
victor February 28, 2011 at 8:14 pm -

thank you for your time, what a wonderful project and yes when I Started the video there was no sound but when I restarted it I had sound
Carole February 28, 2011 at 2:17 pm -

Oh my goodness!!! Something new and exciting to try on my “cats”. I might try low fire slips. The possibilities seem endless. Thanks :)
adi February 28, 2011 at 2:02 pm -

my English and IQ are both OK, but i can’t figure out what does Super says in his comment ???????
Erin February 28, 2011 at 12:43 pm -

Good quality, sound was fine. I like the colors he used but he was kinda monotoned :T Either way it was great :D
George February 28, 2011 at 8:09 am -

I loved the video! I use slip quite a bit with sgraffito but never thought to apply it before building my objects and I usually only use one layer on top of the base clay layer. I’m wondering – does the blotting of the slip help dry the slip layer yet help prevent the entire clay layer from drying out too much? Maybe allowing it to air dry allows it to dry out too much?? Also…has anyone figured out what he was using to blot with – it looks a little thicker than a bed sheet – almost like a cloth diaper. Thanks…loved the video, George
Rae February 28, 2011 at 1:25 am -

no sound no video nothing
Francine February 27, 2011 at 10:35 am -

Great video, thank you Curt…I’ll be trying this technique soon.
Lynne February 26, 2011 at 8:02 pm -

G’day from Australia…love the blog and the video ideas…this has potential for alot of variety….many thanks
inga February 26, 2011 at 5:40 pm -

Have you changed the program or version used to show the videos? I have not been able to watch the last two videos. Is anyone else having this same problem?
Norma February 26, 2011 at 2:16 pm -

Nigel, that sounds like an interesting variation on this technique. Thanks. But I was wondering, Curt, what advantage slip layering has over laminating different colored clays, I would think it time consuming to blot and dry each slip layer vs. clay layers. Perhaps the thinness of the slip vs the clay thickness? Very clear explanatory video, thanks.
Angie February 26, 2011 at 1:24 pm -

Sound was just fine here. Interesting technique. I will have to try this. Might try it on wheel thrown pieces as well. Thanks for sharing.
Naomi February 26, 2011 at 12:20 pm -

What a wealth of ideas. Lyn I love your work too. Your site inspired me-they are do-able ideas (although probably you make them look easier than they are.)
shaked February 26, 2011 at 11:18 am -

Thank you, that was freshing
Vicki February 26, 2011 at 11:13 am -

I am assuming that you glaze the fired pieces? Do you use colored glaze or clear glaze?
Lenore February 26, 2011 at 8:28 am -

I love to see all these clips!! My sound and video have always been good. What a great way to learn new things in the comfort of your home.
nigel February 26, 2011 at 2:59 am -

You don’t have to blot the slabs – try using a hair dryer or hot air paint stripper – however if using a hot air paint stripper – becareful as the heat can be too intense – a hair dryer is safer. You could also create interesting texture if you allow the air from the hair dryer to blow the wet slip into wave like patterns – you can also marble using this technique and different coloured slips.
carol February 26, 2011 at 12:31 am -

fantastic, finally got sound, very similar to technique lana wilson uses
Lindy February 26, 2011 at 12:19 am -

Thanks Curt for this great idea. I love your uneven assymetrical rims. I can’t wait to try it.
Brenda February 26, 2011 at 12:07 am -

Video was great. I’ve never had any trouble with CAD videos….they play just fine. Will have to give this technique a try!
rosi February 25, 2011 at 11:43 pm -

Sound is working fine. Love their jewelry,too!
Bookiewookie February 25, 2011 at 10:48 pm -

It looks like a great technique, however I would like to know if it was glazed, and with what (clear?) and see the piece after firing.
trish February 25, 2011 at 9:26 pm -

if you put your pointer in the right lower corner, there will come up an icon that will tell you whether the sound is on or not. So if the sound is off click on it, then you need to slide the bar next to it for the desired volume
Cheryl February 25, 2011 at 8:33 pm -

I want to try it on a thrown vessel and a wiggle wire
carol February 25, 2011 at 6:52 pm -

also no sound , love the technique
Tom February 25, 2011 at 6:43 pm -

What incredible technique, and then of course so I went to all your video’s on Youtube, watched them all, checked out your web site on and on. Totally blown away by your process and results. Wow! My I’ve got a long ways to go in this clay world. Thanks!
lyn February 25, 2011 at 6:33 pm -

I await eagerly for the CAD posts ech day- thx for the posts. But this one especially…… I work in coloured clay & its always good to see other people work :) my work is here if youd like to look http://lyncoleceramics.com
pat February 25, 2011 at 6:10 pm -

No sound earlier but o.k. although very soft now. Not a particularly exciting video even though I like his work.
izidora February 25, 2011 at 5:50 pm -

perfect sound and video
Barbara` February 25, 2011 at 5:49 pm -

I have a similar question about the blotting….paper towel, think sheeting? Generally, how long does the blotting take? How do you recycle the laminated clay? Or do you throw it away? A matching neutral clay slip for joining sections? Video worked mostly well. Some jumping around with the picture.
Am February 25, 2011 at 5:35 pm -

Better sound than usual for me, lol. I love this technique! I wonder why the blotting? Is it just to hurry the process along, and would a fan work as well? Doesn’t blotting the layers pick up alot of the slip? As always, I would love to see the finished product….or don’t you glaze them?
richard February 25, 2011 at 4:54 pm -

sound was good, really detailed video of an interesting ‘sgrafitto’ type effect. christie, …your counter tops are [probably] laminated…formica [or other material] glued on top of a substrate[3/4" plywood, which is another laminate]…it is combining thin layers of materials. you could start out with sort of thick layers, one onto of another, then roll them out to thin them to the dimension you need. lots of interesting things happen when you thin slabs of clay…; ^)
judi February 25, 2011 at 4:15 pm -

Really want to try this. ( And the video worked fine for me.)
Barbara February 25, 2011 at 4:14 pm -

I did not get the video, with or without sound.A blank space appeared below the photo of a black and white rectangular vessel being worked on.
Carole February 25, 2011 at 3:58 pm -

I enjoy working with colored slips but haven’t done any layering. Question: Are you blotting with paper towels? That is what it looks like….just wanted to be sure.
Christie February 25, 2011 at 3:30 pm -

He says you can laminate slabs of different colors of clay. How do you laminate?
joan February 25, 2011 at 3:11 pm -

I’ve been having sound problems on all the videos from Ceramics Arts but my sounds works for other sites.
Donna February 25, 2011 at 3:07 pm -

tried again, sound perfect. thanks, great info :)
Sallie February 25, 2011 at 3:04 pm -

No sound.
Delane February 25, 2011 at 3:01 pm -

sound WORKS for me!
Donna February 25, 2011 at 2:59 pm -

also no sound :(
adi February 25, 2011 at 2:57 pm -

sound is perfect. video is well filmed, in my opinion. the technique is well explained and is interesting . i will definitely use it in my slab vessels works. if video is halting, i recommend to let it run till the end, then start again. when you start again it runs smoothly. recommend the site of Curtis. beautiful porcelain works.
Suzi February 25, 2011 at 2:51 pm -

Nice video. The sound is fine.
DJ February 25, 2011 at 2:48 pm -

No sound here!!
KAREN February 25, 2011 at 2:45 pm -

Good sound but video halting several times. Great approach to multi leveled multi colored pieces. Thanks
Jennifer February 25, 2011 at 2:43 pm -

Hmmm…we have sound here. Have you checked your speaker connection or volume level? -ed
Rose February 25, 2011 at 2:37 pm -

also no sound
Lucia February 25, 2011 at 2:36 pm -

The sound just came on.
Lucia February 25, 2011 at 2:34 pm -

Also, no sound.
KAAREN February 25, 2011 at 2:28 pm -

Yes. I am not receiving sound either. And no, my computer is not muted. :-)
Nancy February 25, 2011 at 2:25 pm -

seems to be missing sound????