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July 31, 2009

Pottery Decorating Video: What a Stretch! How to Use Sodium Silicate to Create Crackled Texture on Pottery Surfaces

by Jennifer Harnetty Read Comments (16)

Today’s pottery video is kind of like a two-for-one deal (except, of course, you don’t have to pay for anything!) In this excerpt from the DVD Pottree: Wedge to Fire, potters Don Ellis and Randy Brodnax demonstrate a couple of variations on the same technique in tandem. The technique involves using sodium silicate and a heat gun to quickly harden the outside surface of a freshly thrown pot. Then the pot can be stretched from the inside, creating a lovely cracked texture on the surface. The video is as entertaining as it is informative because Don and Randy are longtime pals who jokingly rib (not in the pottery sense of the word) each other as they work. Enjoy! - Jennifer Harnetty, editor.

 

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This post was excerpted from Pottree: Wedge to Fire, with Don Ellis and Randy Brodnax, which is available in the Ceramic Arts Daily Bookstore.

Buy the DVD here!


For more explanation on sodium silicate and how this technique works, see “Deliberate Cracks: Heating and Stretching to Create Crackled Texture on Pottery” in the Ceramic Arts Daily Archives.

To learn more about Randy Brodnax and see more images of his work, visit www.randybrodnax.com.

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16 Comments

  1. Guy | July 31st, 2009 at 11:23 am

    Hi guys, great to see you both at work once again! The offer still stands for some serious fishin’ in the Saint Lawrence. I’m heading for the studio right now to give this another try - you energized me again!

  2. Debbie | July 31st, 2009 at 12:13 pm

    Fabulous. I’m going to order the DVD!

  3. Rasim | July 31st, 2009 at 1:32 pm

    wowww wonderful..

  4. Rhys | July 31st, 2009 at 3:49 pm

    What a delightful and helpful piece from two such talented and creative people. Thank
    you so much for your inspiration and allowing us to share, learn and enjoy seeing your
    lovely friendship.

  5. CAROLYN | July 31st, 2009 at 5:04 pm

    Randy gave the Carolina Clay Guild a workshop back in the day with this procedure and he hasn’t changed a bit!! Wonderful workshop with great techniques and I still have those pictures saved on my computer with the fantastic pieces he made then..I think a lot of the members went out got the sodium silicate and we all tried it out.. in fact, does it ever get bad on the shelf Randy? I still have my original jar!!and I have a piece I never glazed, just bisqued.. mmmmm.. wonder what glaze I’ll find to put on it … Thanks for the great video!!!

  6. Alan | July 31st, 2009 at 5:31 pm

    Two guys who really know what they are doing! Great process generated work, and they make it all look so simple with their laid back style! Wonderful, collaborative video, thank you!

  7. Jenny | July 31st, 2009 at 8:22 pm

    Another convert…….. I am dying to try th technique and see howfar it goes. Cheers, guys.

  8. Kathleen | July 31st, 2009 at 8:41 pm

    Bring this to San Angelo next year, See you there

  9. debra | July 31st, 2009 at 10:24 pm

    i was wondering if this can be done with sodium silicate at any firing temperature?
    thanks,
    debi

  10. Dave | August 5th, 2009 at 11:02 pm

    Always great to see Don and Randy in action.

  11. debra | August 14th, 2009 at 8:51 pm

    great!love it. But is this food safe?

  12. sa | August 19th, 2009 at 8:46 pm

    hello Don and Randy, I like most of ur work, seem so easy but as bigginers like me mmmmmm the throwing will become out of shape.Both of u have very creative fingure . i like the design u show .My question that sodium silicate u mix with the slip then u paint all over, then create design and wipe with sponge at the design.

  13. matt | August 19th, 2009 at 9:32 pm

    Hey Don, What a nice surprise to see you here. Great technique for surface texture. Hows life been since grad school? Still have your gallery in Nm? Ive been working at Mark of the potter for the past 16 years. http://www.markofthepotter.com

  14. meta | October 9th, 2009 at 1:06 pm

    Randy, we need you to come back to Rockingham Community College in Wentworth and show us how to use the kiln we bought from you.

  15. Bonnie | October 9th, 2009 at 10:57 pm

    Thank you for sharing.
    I enjoyed watching this technique.
    I have tried it before but didn’t have much luck.
    After watching you I think I can do a better job now.
    Thank you
    Bonnie

  16. Vaughan | November 11th, 2009 at 9:18 pm

    I have used slips and stencils all of my career and now I am going to try adding this.
    Thanks for inspiring me.

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