Overlay paste?

[tonjal]

I tried ACS slow dry for the first time last week.  Love it. '>
I saw a picture online that I believe from the book "Art Clay Silver & Gold" that intrigued me. Looked like an image of bamboo that had been stenciled onto glass with ACS paste. I ordered the book, but since it won't be here for a week or so I thought I'd ask about it.

[Metalman]

Well I am not finding the image you refferred to but.......

The best way to do that would be to use Overlay paste - This product from the Art Clay line has been specially designed to paint over ceramic , glazed and glass surfaces. You could paint the image on, but make sure you thin the Overlay Paste down to the consistency of skim milk.  if the overlay paste it too thick on the surface, there can be complications. You can paint the design on - you may need 2 layers. When it drys, you can carefully clean and straighten your marks by gently scrapping back the unwanted areas.
another way to do designs would be to thin the paste and flow a thing layer over the entire design area.  Again - s thin mix so you get a smooth even flow over the area.  Let that dry and transfer on your design.  Then gently scrap back the unwanted areas. This is sort of a sgraffito or scratchboard- like method, gives an elegant design impression impression, especially good on white glazed porcelain pieces.
Hope this helps - send the further questions as they arise.

[tonjal]

Thanks for the info '> I believe it was page 15. Caption under picture said "Glass & Art Clay overlay".

I'm itching to give tis technique a try. I also work with dichroic glass. I'll have to post some pictures of my PMC & glass pendants.

[Metalman]

Ahhh...!! yes - I can confirm the methods I described before.
Two details  or tricks, and a note
1 If you use the scratching method - Make sure the applied paste is really dry before you scratch, then use a soft brush to get all the dust bits off before you fire the glass.  You may even have to carefully clean your piece with alcohol for the dust [I use solvent alcohol from the hardware store]
2 The Silver interacts with the glass and can give it a vaguely opalescent blue/yellow coloration called 'silver staining' This is why you need to clean well. Oddly and surprisingly, if you 'color' the surface with a Sharpie™ marker, this seems to prevent the discoloration.
3 In working with glass and dichro and Art Clay silver, I have found that sometimes the silver interacts with the dichro - this is an experiment place - sometimes the interaction is good - sometimes not so good

[tonjal]

I've got to order some overlay paste. '> Is it that different from the 650 paste? I couldn't just thin that down? I could try this technique tonight if I can use what paste I have here.

Here's a pendant I made a few days ago with the low fire slow dry and a dichro cab. It turned out fabulous, except the center CZ turned brown. Was light blue before firing.

[Metalman]

Nice piece!!

Overlay paste is different in that it is a 'finer grind" so to speak.
It bonds better to glaze and glass, etc. better than regular or 650 paste -
But - experiments rule - so test it out - depending how you use it, the non-overlay pastes may work for you.
In my experiments, I have found that the Overlay bonds smoothly and quite well to a variety of materials including glass, ceramics, glazed ceramics, metals and various stone materials.  I use it as a footing for metal connections and for additions.

About your CZ - most CZs should 'Fire in place' just fine, I would check with my supplier as to why this changed color, usually the blue tones are quite stable. It doesn't look like the silver fired on to the surface - I could suspect silver staining but it doesn't look like that's what happened.

[tonjal]

Hey Metalman,

I started a group buy on some fabulous texture sheets I found that are manufactured in Canada. Is it okay to post about it here in the forum?