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Daisies in Grass

Method

Building up layers of greens to create grass is a great technique and works well against the crisp clean daisies. We love this striking design.

You can also view an printable sheet here which can be folded in half.  The daisies can then be cut out carefully.

For this example, we have used

1 – Cotton Tail
6 – Dandelion
19 – Purple Haze
27 – Sour Apple
30 – Leapin’ Lizard
31 – Just Froggy

  • Paint the whole area with white paint 1 (Cotton Tail). This is the base to which the paper flowers will stick.
  • There’s a printable sheet of daisies you can use here. You’ll need to them out carefully.
  • Next work out where you want to position the daisies and use water to stick down the paper shapes to the item. Press down to ensure a close contact. Do not rub the paper.
  • Water down the paint by adding a couple of brushloads of water to 27 (Sour Apple) and 30 (Leapin’ Lizard). Use the large flat brush to paint large, sweeping strokes all over the bowl. Ensure that you paint over each flower.
  • Next using the small round brush, paint short strokes in 31 (Just Froggy), 27 (Sour Apple) and 30 (Leapin’ Lizard) all over the bowl.
  • Peel off the flower heads using a pin.
  • Add a daisy centre to each of the flowers using 6 (Dandelion).
  • Using 1 (Cotton Tail) and 19 (Purple Haze), add long strokes to the petals to give some colour, depth and texture to the petals. The idea is to paint thin strokes from the centre of the flower, to create a shadow on some of the petals.

Suggested bisque include tableware such as bowls and plates.  This design would also work well on plant pots.

And if you love this design, why not try our Project Pack? Take a look here

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English Strawberries

Method

This design delicate design creates a cute strawberry pattern all over your bisque.  Adding flicks gives the design an aged look, and dots in between the berries gives it a modern look.

For this example, we have used

3 – Rawhide
10 – Candy Apple Red
15 – Pink-a-Boo
33 – Camel Back
31 – Just Froggy
36 – Tuxedo

  • First cover the whole area in three layers of 3 (Rawhide).
  • With a toothbrush, flick gently all over the cream with 33 (Camel Back).
  • Paint in your strawberries using a combination of 15 (Pink-a-Boo) and 10 (Candy Apple Red). When you’re painting the strawberry shape, think flat bottomed hearts. It may help to draw a few on a piece of paper before painting.
  • Paint half the strawberry in 15 (Pink-a-Boo) and the other half in 10 (Candy Apple Red) and blend together where they meet. Build up layers of each colour and blend together.
  • Add the stalks using 31 (Just Froggy).
  • Add a few delicate seeds in 36 (Tuxedo) to each strawberry.
Suggested bisque include larger kitchenware items like jugs and vases.  This design would also work well on serving dishes.

And if you love this design, why not try our Project Pack? Take a look here
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Koi Carp

Method

This technique simplifies a stunning design of Koi Carp by breaking it down into easy steps.  There’s no drawing needed, simply follow the steps and use our templates.

You can also view an inspiration sheet here showing different designs you could utilise, combinations of dots, vertical stripes and dashes.

For this example, we have used

1 – Cotton Tail
8 – Orange-a-Peel
22 – Blue Isle
36 – Tuxedo

 

  • Paint the whole area with white paint 1 (Cotton Tail). This is the base to which the paper fish will stick.
  • We have a printable sheet you can use for the shape of the fish here.
  • Next work out where you want to position the fish and use water to stick down the paper shapes to the item. Press down to ensure a close contact. Do not rub the paper.
  • Paint the whole shape in three layers of 22 (Blue Isle).
  • Using a pin, peel off the fish.
  • Paint interesting blobs and shapes in 8 (Orange-a-Peel) on each fish and black 36 (Tuxedo). Try to do a random pattern on each.  Look at the inspiration sheet above for help.
  • Using a cocktail stick, scratch in bubbles, solid circles and wave lines.

Suggested bisque include flat surface items of kitchenware such as plates or pots  This design would also work well on a vase or wine cooler.

And if you love this design, why not try our Project Pack? Take a look here

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Rainbow

Method

This technique creates a lovely blended rainbow design on your bisque using our rainbow colours.

For this example, we have used:

6 – Dandelion
8 – Orange-a-Peel
10 – Candy Apple Red
30 – Leapin’ Lizard
23 – The Blues
19 – Purple Haze

  • Make up a few different consistencies of ‘wash’. Use wide and thin strokes, in differing widths and paint vertical lines around your pot.  Only use one coat of watery paint as you’ll be adding layers to create darker strokes.
  • Using the back of a paintbrush, add dots to random vertical strips. Add additional layers of watered down paint in thin and thick strips on top of the existing washed strips.
  • Once you’re happy with the number of layers, dots and dashes you’ve added, paint the rim of the pot using layers of small short strokes.
  • When all the paint dots and lines are dry, carefully give the whole design another wash over the top.  This will knock back the colours so they resemble fabric. Don’t paint a few of the white strips, so they remain white.
Suggested bisque include mugs, pots, vases and letters.
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Galaxy

Method

This design is one of our most popular designs in the studio.  Using sponges and a toothbrush you can create a galaxy design which is simply out of this world!

For this example, we have used:

1 – Cotton Tail
17 – Grapel
21 – My Blue Heaven
24 – Moody Blue
36 -Tuxedo

  • First mark out the areas of the nebula. These can be long streaks or circular. You need to make them big enough to contain 3 different colours – sometimes it’s easier to draw each section as a separate segment.
  • Using a small round sponge, sponge the 36 (Tuxedo) in between the nebula. Cover all the ‘space’ areas so you’re just left with the nebula shapes.
  • Sponge 24 (Moody Blue) inside each nebula where it touches the black – try to overlap the black a little. Sponge 17 (Grapel) and then 21 (My Blue Heaven) into the middle segment. The light blue should be the centre of the nebula. Overlap each colour to blend.
  • Using a toothbrush, flick 1 (Cotton Tail) all over the item to create white stars. The harder you flick the more streaky the stars will look, and the softer, nearer you are they will look like small dots.
Suggested bisque include absolutely everything! We’ve had this design created on anything from the usual mug and plates to hippos and the tummy of an owl. And if you love this design, why not try our Project Pack? Take a look here
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Leopard Print

Method

To achieve this design, you’ll need to decide on background colour and three stronger colours for the pattern. We’ve used a cream, dark and light brown and black to create our sample, but for something a little different, try using pinks or purples.

You can also view an inspiration sheet here showing different designs you could utilise, combinations of dots, vertical stripes and dashes. For this example, we have used

3 – Rawhide
32 – Crackerjack
33 – Camel Back
36 – Tuxedo

  • To start, paint the whole area in two layers of 3 (Rawhide). This will form the base of the design, so try to paint even coats.
  • Using 32 (Crackerjack), add random blobs all over the piece. Have a look at the pattern and layout sheet here for inspiration.
  • Using 33 (Camel Back) add smaller long and short blobs to opposite sides of the lighter brown blobs.
  • Finally using 36 (Tuxedo), add an additional mark to each of the blobs.

Suggested bisque include tableware such as bowls and mugs. This design would also look good on ceramic letter, spelling initials or words.

And if you love this design, why not try our Project Pack? Take a look here

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Dreamy Sky

Method

This design will give you a colourful dreamy sky on which white fluffy clouds float by!  

For this example, we have used:

1 – Cotton Tail
6 – Dandelion
7 – Jack-o-Lantern
15 – Pink-a-Boo
17 – Grapel
19 – Purple Haze

  • First you’ll need to split your bisque item into 5 sections vertically. This will dictate where each of the 5 colours will be painted and blended.
  • Starting with 6 (Dandelion) at the bottom, use long wide strokes and blend into 15 (Pink-a-Boo). Blend together where they meet with 7 (Jack-O-Lantern), then 17 (Grapel) and finally 19 (Purple Haze).
  • Once these layers are dry, use 1 (Cotton Tail) to paint wispy clouds. Remember that the thicker the layer of white paint you put on, the more it will be seen.
Suggested bisque include mugs, pots and letters.  This design would also work well on the rim of plate.
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Safari Sunrise

Method

Creating an African sky of yellows and oranges works perfectly with the black silhouette of giraffes.  You could also use elephants or any safari animals.   You can also view an printable silhouette of a tree with a couple of giraffes here.

For this example, we have used

1 – Cotton Tail
6 – Dandelion
7 – Jack-o-Lantern
8 – Orange-a-Peel
9 – Tu Tu Tango
36 – Tuxedo

  • You’ll need to split your piece of pottery into four sections, using a felt tipped pen. Remember that this ink will not survive the heat of the kiln and will burn away.
  • The four sections will dictate the graduation of oranges. So the bottom section will contain the yellow, the second section the lightest orange and the top two sections the orange & red.
  • Start by laying down white 1 (Cotton Tail) and sweeping circular strokes of 6 (Dandelion) in the area you want the sun. Only paint yellow on one side of the sun.
  • Cut out a circle which covers the painted area, and use water to stick down the paper circle to the item and press down to ensure a close contact. Do not rub the paper.
  • To paint the sky, start with 6 (Dandelion) at the base, 7 (Jack-o-Lantern) & 8 (Orange-a-Peel) in the middle and 9 (Tu Tu Tango) at the top, using long horizontal brush strokes, blend the colours together.
  • We’ve provided a template of the giraffes and tree you can use here. When cutting out, remember that you want to keep the integrity of the shape as you’ll be filling it in with black paint 36 (Tuxedo).
  • Once you’ve cut out the silhouette, use water to stick the paper to the paint. Press down to ensure a close contact. Do not rub the paper.
  • Fill the area with black paint. You can use a brush or a small sponge for this. Do not overload the sponge, gradually build up the layers.
  • Peel the paper off.
Suggested bisque include plates and mugs.  This design would also work well on canisters or pots.
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Urban Skyline

Method

This design blends light, mid and dark blues together to create a sky. Using paper resist, you can add silhouette buildings and flicked white paint to add some snow. Some ideas for skyline layouts can be downloaded here.

For this example, we have used

21 – My Blue Heaven
23 – The Blues
24 – Moody Blue
1 – Cotton Tail
36 – Tuxedo

  • You’ll need to split your piece of pottery into three sections, using a felt tipped pen. Remember that this ink will not survive the heat of the kiln and will burn away.
  • These three sections will dictate the graduation of blues. So the bottom third will mainly contain the lightest blue, the middle section the mid blue and the top section the darkest blue.
  • Starting with 21 at the base, 23 in the middle and 24 at the top, using long horizontal brush strokes, blend the colours together. Add some extra interest by using the mid blue, gently sweeping into the lightest blue.
  • Use a toothbrush to flick white paint all over. Use gentle flicks for small, subtle dots.
  • Cut out a skyline using paper – remember the buildings are what you need, so you’ll need to cut the buildings out with this in mind. There are a few layout suggestions in the how to pack.
  • Using water, stick down the paper skyline to the item and press down to ensure a close contact. Do not rub the paper.
  • Using a small sponge, add 36 to the buildings.
  • Peel off the paper.
This design is easier to create on items of bisque that have a flat side.  Square plates, pencil pot, rectangular vase, wine coolers all make great items to carry this design
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Mexican Cactus

Method

This design is captures the hues of the mountain ranges in warmer climates. Adding the flicking gives it a more rustic feel and would work in many different colour combinations.

For this example, we’ve used:

2 – Cashew Later
3 – Rawhide
8 – Orange-a-Peel
12 – Cinnamon Stix
31 – Just Froggy
25 – Teal next Time

  • First draw out the ground, first mountain range and large range to create the shapes of the background. Use a felt tipped pen. This ink does not survive the heat of the kiln and will burn away.
  • You’ll also need to draw a cactus where you want it positioned.
  • Using 12 (Cinnamon Stix), paint the ground in three layers. Next paint 8 (Orange-a-Peel) into the first mountain range, taking care to paint around the cactus shape.
  • Do the same for the larger mountain range in 3 (Cashew Later).
  • Finally use 2 (Rawhide) to paint the sky area.
  • The cactus is painted using 31 (Just Froggy). Add shadow to each of the limbs of the cactus using 25 (Teal next Time).
  • Finally use a toothbrush and flick all the colours except 31 and 25 to the piece.
Suggested bisque include tableware such as espresso cups and square plates.