Ceramic Arts Daily – Pottery Video of the Week: Creating a Patina on Pottery with Trailed Slip and Layered Underglazes

There are a ton of fun pottery decorating techniques out there involving slips and underglazes. And the technique in today’s video is another fine example, and one I hadn’t ever seen until filming Erin Furimsky’s new Layered Surfaces DVD. So, I thought it would be a good one to share. In this technique, Erin slip trails some patterns on a piece, then paints a couple of layers of different colored underglazes on top. After everything dries to bone dry, she sands and scrapes away at the layers creating an effect similar in appearance to weathered and worn layered paint. And it is gorgeous. Check it out! – Jennifer Harnetty, editor.
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Detail of finished fired surface with a clear glaze.
To see the other surface technique used on this cup, plus scores of others, order your copy of Layered Surfaces with Erin Furimsky (which is now shipping!) from the Ceramic Arts Daily Bookstore. Free shipping for online orders! (Free shipping applies to U.S. orders only.)



To learn more about Erin Furimsky or see images of her work, please visit http://www.erinfurimsky.com.

Debbie Howard April 8, 2013 at 1:07 am -

Bath Potters Supplies have ‘precision slip trailers’ which are very similar to the ones Erin uses.
Linda Woodhouse April 5, 2013 at 2:41 pm -

Hi I live in England and I can’t find the slip trailers Erin uses over here only rubber bulbs which are too stiff for me,does anyone know where I can buy them? I am a hobby potter but love using slip and would like to try these techniques.Any help would be much appreciated. This is a FANTASTIC site for me to learn new methods. Thanks very much to everyone involved. Linda
Terry February 15, 2012 at 5:51 pm -

Do you still have the receipe for the colored slip? Thanks
Patti November 28, 2011 at 12:01 pm -

Janie. I would love your coloured slip recipe as well
Jana September 6, 2011 at 5:13 pm -

Janie, would you share your colored slip recipe? I have tried this on a vase. Looks so great! will be buying the DVD!
Sara August 18, 2011 at 2:48 am -

this was an excelent clip! I just finished some cups and I’m going down to the studio to try this technique right now!! thank you!!
Janie August 16, 2011 at 8:42 pm -

I purchased the DVD and it was definitely worth the money! There is so much on the 2 discs, I don’t know if I will EVER get finished trying all of it! I have a good ‘recipe’ for colored slips, let me know if you want it.
Lynne August 9, 2011 at 8:40 am -

I enjoyed this video, and especially liked the tip about sanding first and then following up with the rib. I am another who would have liked to see the finished cup (it wasn’t clear that the photo was of a finished test tile.) I also am wondering if the slips were commercially prepared or if Erin colours her own. Great technique,thanks for sharing.
Masha August 8, 2011 at 12:28 pm -

Dear Erin and Jennifer! Do you make your underglaze or it comes as commercial mix? Here in Russia we get only powdered version. Is it a glycerin that makes the underglaze so oily looking and allows to put one layer on top of the other?
Maria August 8, 2011 at 4:24 am -

Thats a great way to get depth of colours in lower firings. Thanks so much for sharing this,
Roy Julien August 7, 2011 at 11:09 pm -

I love this technique, Thank you for sharing.
Sonja August 7, 2011 at 8:29 pm -

I love how she did this, but I am wondering how you get green and yellow slip? I’m just a beginner, to be honest and I know what slip is, but I have never seen this color. Is there a color additive in this? Thanks for the great video. I’d really love to try this sometime.
lyn August 7, 2011 at 7:23 pm -

thank you again CAD for your generous sharing of techniques and inspiration. Many artists hold their methods close to their chest and its wonderful to see here such a library of ideas! I love Erins surface finishs so much :)
Ethel August 7, 2011 at 11:58 am -

There was no sound with this video, and it looked so intresting.
Shirley M August 7, 2011 at 8:54 am -

I too would love to see the finished cup. I was so looking forward to it and felt let down with just the tile demo.
Randy August 7, 2011 at 6:56 am -

Is there a dust issue from the sanding and scraping or is the slip and underglaze damp enough to keep the dust from becoming airborne?
patti August 6, 2011 at 6:40 pm -

I appreciated the detail of the finished tile, but it is a common feeling I have after these videos…I would like to see the finished piece, not just something else that is sort of similiar. I realize that not all of the pieces we see demonstrated will come out as hoped,(I know my percentage of pieces that turn out well can be pretty low at times) but it would be something to try to include when possible. Loved the idea of this technique and will try it!
Am August 6, 2011 at 3:25 pm -

I always, always want to see the piece finished, not something “like” it. It should be a standard requirement for even having your video shown on CAD. After firing, edit a photo of the finished piece in at the end. Having said that, nice technique – thanks for sharing!
Kathi August 6, 2011 at 11:18 am -

Looks easy enough, but ,I too would like to see the piece after the glaze fire.
el August 6, 2011 at 11:16 am -

Did you put the clear matte on after scraping and then did Only 1 firing? Or a second firing with the clear glaze? Thank you the technique is great!
nikki August 6, 2011 at 2:55 am -

I hope I can buy the DVD in Holland! I like youre work very much.. My compliments for you! Greetings Nikki
Barbara August 5, 2011 at 11:27 pm -

I lovrd the layering and depth given by this technique, like on antique fabrics.
Janet August 5, 2011 at 8:23 pm -

Layers, layers, how many layers needed ? Yes, think. Invent – try ideas –what is needed ? sometimes the answers come out of the most wierd places ! I love it !!!
Gail August 5, 2011 at 5:18 pm -

Not everyone is able to hear. As I have a severe hearing loss and am unable to understand her comments, I would like to know if she bisqued the item first or is working on leather hard clay
Lloyd August 5, 2011 at 4:28 pm -

I liked the technique shown very much. Could you use this technique at higher temps, say stoneware? Thanks for sharing.
alice August 5, 2011 at 1:35 pm -

Joan, look at the video. listen to the words. think.
Jennifer August 5, 2011 at 1:05 pm -

ps. the glaze used in the image above is a matte clear glaze.
Jennifer August 5, 2011 at 1:04 pm -

Folks, I posted a detail photo of the finished glazed and fired surface above. It is from the test tile that Erin made for the DVD. She used the exact process demonstrated above to get this look. It was shown briefly in the clip above and more on the actual DVD. Hope that helps. Thanks, Jennifer Harnetty
lana August 5, 2011 at 12:50 pm -

The technique was very intriguing, but it would have been very helpful to have seen the finished, fired cup.
Joan August 5, 2011 at 12:40 pm -

I love the idea of layering. You painted the underglazes while the piece was leather hard, did you do the scraping while leather hard or did you bisque first? Also, what did you use for overglaze for the final firing and at what temperature? Also, what type of underglaze did you use? Thanks so much for sharing and I love your work.
Penny August 5, 2011 at 11:08 am -

Thanks Erin; that has spurred some very interesting ideas using variations of your technique. Thnaks for sharing!
vadie August 5, 2011 at 11:02 am -

i loved watching the technique..but it would have been nice to see a picture of the finished product.

Pottery Video of the Week: Creating a Patina on Pottery with Trailed Slip and Layered Underglazes

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