Clay Spotted Bunny

Products Used

Mold
  • CD-777 Oval Slump & Hump (need sump only)
  • CD-1075 Press Tools (Sprial Shape Only)
Color
  • SC-11 Blue Yonder
  • SC-15 Tuxedo
  • SC-23 Jack O' Lantern
  • SC-26 Green Thumb
  • SC-27 Sour Apple
  • SC-50 Orange Ya Happy
  • SC-52 Toad-ily Green
  • SC-70 Pink-A-Dot
  • SC-76 Cara-Bein Blue
  • FN-001 White
  • CG-964 Kaleidoscope
Decorating Accessories
  • CB-110 #10/0 Liner
  • CB-404 #4 Pointed Round
  • CB-604 #4 Soft Fan
  • BT-910 Synthetic Sponges
Clay_Spotted_Bunny
Additional Materials
  • Pencil
  • Rolling Pin or Slab Roller
  • Canvas Material
  • White Moist Clay (low fire 04/06)
  • Fettling Knife
  • Various Molding Tools
  • Tamping Bag
  • Plaster Bat
  • Plastic Bag
  • Slip/Slurry
  • Wooden Slats
  • Download Project Pattern: Clay Spotted Bunny Pattern
Project Info

Instructions


Assembly

  1. Roll out two slabs of clay about ¼” in thickness. Place the clay over the slump mold. The clay should extend out over the edge of the mold. Using the tamping bag, slowly tap down on the clay to deform it into the mold. Next use a slightly moistened BT-910 Sponge to further smooth and complete the clay shape. This insures that the clay is fully shaped to the mold. Trim off the excess clay from the outer edge of the mold using the Fettling Knife. Let this set for a few minutes to harden up slightly. Remove from the mold and invert it onto a plaster bat and cover with a plastic bag. Repeat the process to form another like shape. Let both sit to dry and firm up inverted on the plaster bat.
  2. Once the two pieces have firmed up enough to handle to where they will not be easily deformed. Trim off the excess lip of clay to within a ¼” of the oval. Score both sides and apply slurry/slip then press the two shapes together to form an oval sphere. Web the edges back and forth to fuse the edges together. Use a Flat wooden slat to tap the shape into a smooth and continuous egg sphere. This means that one end is more pointed and the other end is more rounded. Once the shape is smooth and even, tap the rounded end onto the plaster bat to where it will stand on its own.
  3. Roll out a coil of clay about 7-8” long and about ½” thick. Score and slip/slurry the coil, then attach it to the lower edge of the egg wrapping the coil around the bottom of the egg.  Web and blend the coil onto the egg to form a footing for the bunny. This will give it added stability to the bunny.
  4. Roll out a slab of clay 3/8” thick to form the ears. Using the pattern provide to cut the shapes out.  Let them firm up by letting them sit on the plaster bat.
  5. Roll out two marble sized balls of clay to form the eyes. Use the pattern for guidance to their size.  Score and slip/slurry the balls of clay onto the oval towards the upper top end of the egg shape. Keep the balls somewhat near one another.  Press them onto the ware to flatten them slightly. Then use the spiral press tool to press into the center of the eye forming the iris of the eye. Cut out a wedge of clay to form the nose. Use the pattern for sizing. Score and slip/slurry the wedge of clay nose, place it between and lower than the eyes. Using your fingers web the lower edge of the nose to blend it into the face of the bunny.   Using the Fettling Knife drill the mouth. This hole will vent the piece.
  6. Roll out an elongated cone shape to form the carrot. Form a triangular wedge shape to form the carrot top. Use the Fettling tool and or modeling tools to texture the top “greens” of the carrot. Score some horizontal lines in the carrot for texture.  Use some slip/slurry to attach the top of the carrot to the bottom. Roll out a small slab of clay 1/8” thick for the paw. Use the pattern for a guide. Use your fingers to round the edges of the shape. Score and slip/slurry the carrot shape, then attach the carrot to the bunny.  Score and slip/slurry the paw, then attach it over the carrot. Use your fingers or modeling tools to blend the paw into the ware.
  7. The ears should be firm enough to hold their shape and attach to the bunny.   Place the ears to where they overlap at the top of the bunny and to where they will touch the sides of the head.   Score and slip/slurry the edges and sides of the ears, then attach them to the bunny. Use some clay to thicken up the base of the ears on top of the head.  Web and smooth out this clay to blend it into the shape of the head. This will give the ears added strength. Give the ears some character by torqueing the ears slightly at the apex of the ears and outer edges making them slightly cupped at the end of the ears.
  8. Loosely drape the plastic bag over the ware to dry slowly. Then after a day or two, remove the bag and let the piece dry completely.
  9. Clean up the ware before firing.
  10. Make sure the ware is thoroughly dry before firing. If the piece feels cold, it has not completely dried.
  11. Bisque fire the ware to shelf cone 04.

Painting

  1. Wipe down the piece with a moistened BT-901 Sponge to remove any excess fired clay dust.
  2. Using a CB-604 #4 Soft Fan, apply 2-3 coats of FN-001 White to the entire piece.
  3. Using CB-404 #4 Pointed Round, detail the eyes with SC-11 Blue Yonder and shade with SC-76 Cara-Bein Blue. Shade the inner ear and nose with SC-70 Pink-A-Dot.
  4. Using a CB-110 #10/0 Liner, detail the iris of the eye with SC-15 Tuxedo. Detail around the shading of pink in the ear with SC-50 Orange Ya Happy. Keep this line uneven in width and length. Paint the carrot with SC-23 Jack O’ Lantern and shade the edges with SC-50 Orange Ya Happy using aCB-404 #4 Pointed Round.   Paint the carrot greens with SC-27 Sour Apple and shade with SC-52 Toad-ily Green and SC-26 Green Thumb.
  5. Using a CB-604 #4 Soft Fan, apply 1 coat of CG-964 Kaleidoscope to the lower portion of the bunny, feathering the crystals up towards the head. The crystals should be heaviest towards the base of the bunny. If the crystals are still not too heavy after drying, apply another coat towards the base of the bunny.  Lightly apply some crystals to the base of the ears feathering them out to the top of the ears. Allow to dry.
  6. Stilt and fire the piece to shelf cone 05/06.

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