Metal Clay

[MythMouse]

In "Precious Metal Clay in Mixed Media" by Mary Ann Devos, she says that you can mix enamel with PMC3 in equal amounts to create a hybrid with full saturation of the enamel color.  Has anyone tried this with Art Clay?  What type?  What results?  (She was using Thompson Enamels.)  I may do some experimentation... but if there is already info out there, why experiment to perfect, why not just build on what is known.  (Also, if you have done something combining enamel and Art clay, how did you fire the piece?  She seems to fire in a cool kiln... 1450F for 10 minutes.)

Looking forward to hearing if anyone has done something, and how.

-MythMouse

[Metalman]

I have not tried this with ACS.  I would recommend you to Pam East. She is one of the ACS MAster Instructors and is very experienced with enamels.
Her website is=   http://www.pameast.net/
We carry her book, Enameling on Metal Clay: Innovative Jewelry Projects [R&T Stock#: 62-789] but I would contact her regarding the specifics of your question.
By the way, !450°F is not a temperature I think of when you mention a 'cool kiln'.
Good luck and let us know how things progress.

[MythMouse]

Thanks Kurt!  I have sent her a message, and will let everyone know when I receive a response.  I will likely pick up her book at R&T.  Thanks for the info.
-MythMouse (Annemarie)

[MythMouse]

Here is Pam's answer...

Art clay works the same as PMC in this regard… but I’d have to say it isn’t great in either case.  You have to use very dark colors to get any color at all, and you are sacrificing the structural integrity of both.   Basically, your mixing glass and metal together and asking it to hold together…  The glass interferes with the sintering of the metal clay (regardless of brand) and the result may be brittle.  Does it work?  Yes.  Is it optimal for getting color into your metal clay work?  In my opinion, No.  

A better way is to fire the metal clay first, and then enamel it afterward in a more traditional fashion.  There are also many other ways to impart color to your metal clay work.  There are techniques using resins, colored pencils, patinas, polymer clay and more.  But all these methods rely on applying the color AFTER the clay is fired.  

Mary Ellin D'Agostino has probably done the most with the technique of mixing enameling into raw clay.  Here is a photo of one of her pieces done that way.  I believe she used Thompson’s Prussian Blue (very dark blue) for this piece. Or it could have been Cobalt.  You could ask her. I’m sure she would be happy to tell you.  She may even have instructions on her website somewhere.

http://www.medacreations.com/JewelrPix/Iris2.jpg

Pam East

www.pameast.net

[Metalman]

Thanks Mythmouse and Pam East.
A clear and definitive answer - Excellent!!