A 100% non-profit Art Publication                                                Click on any of the Menu Buttons
located on Route 66                                                                                            on the left and cruise
in the Galaxies of Cyberspace!                                                                   to your favorite hot spots.

Rubber Road
Scenic Byway:

FABULOUS FAUX RAKU VASE

 By: Shauna Brom
Trailblazers
Mixed Media Team Designer

This is one of those projects that give instant creative satisfaction - both in making and admiring! Raku is a type of Japanese pottery that dates back to at least the 16^th century. Raku refers to the family name of artisans to which it is attributed. It is a process defined by a low firing temperature and the use of both fire and smoke. With raku one never knows what the finish will be, which is one of the draws that makes it so popular even today. A texture is often rough and uneven. Although there is a great deal of variation among raku, the most common colors that are associated with a raku finish are iridescent blues, turquoise, greens, violet, pinks, silver, and copper. Think peacock or abalone and you’ve got it! Peacock and abalone colorations are my favorites so I was immediately drawn to this ancient pottery. However, since I have neither the equipment nor the knowledge to create the real deal, I decided to delve into the artistically wonderful world of faux. While there are many ways to achieve the look of raku, I love this quick, easy, and absolutely lovely technique made with polymer clay and mica powders. I first saw this on a craft show and it was so simple that I recalled it without needing to refresh my memory, which is most unusual for me! My enthusiasm for this technique became even more significant when I discovered that the term raku is found in the Kanji character meaning enjoyment or ease! Give this a try and I believe you’ll agree this project provides both! Not to mention it looks “faux fabulous, dahling”!

NOTE: Iridescent colors are notoriously difficult to photograph. The colors are much richer and varied then they appear in the photos.

Supplies:
Polymer Clay- Black, 1-3 packages depending on size of project (Sculpey III)
Mica Powders: (I used Pearl Ex by Jacquard)
·         Spring green
·         Misty lavender
·         Flamingo pink
·         Blue russet
·         Antique silver
·         Aztec gold
·         True blue
·         Sky blue
(Basically for this technique you need some shade of blue, green, purple, pink, and a bit of gold and silver)
Piece of sandpaper-any grit (not crucial)
Sealer- (I used Polycrylic by Minwax)
Clay dedicated pasta machine
Tile or glass piece to put clay on during working and baking
Glass vase, votive, or other item to cover with clay-(I used a bottle)
Rubbing alcohol
Charms, beads, wire, fiber, or any choice of embellishments

DIRECTIONS:

1.      Clean the glass you are going to use with rubbing alcohol.

2.      Condition the clay by running through the pasta machine about 20 times. Once clay is conditioned, run through machine again on thinnest setting. Do this 2 or 3 times folding and/or turning clay until you get a thin piece. Don’t worry if the edges are torn or ruffled. For this project that can work to your advantage.

3.      Lay clay on work surface.

4.      Using a different finger for each color, finger paint with the mica powders all over the clay. Overlap the colors in places so that most of the clay is covered with color.

5.      Gently tear clay into small pieces about 1” to 1½” inches. This is just an approximate size. These should be random and smaller or larger depending on the size of your glass piece. For instance, if covering a small votive, tear into smaller pieces and if covering a large vase tear clay into larger sections.

6.      As you tear each piece of clay place it on the glass object. Overlap clay slightly and press just ever so gently. Continue tearing and placing clay until the glass is completely covered with clay.

7.      Using the palm of your hand or a piece of sandpaper, gently press down all over clay to remove any obvious fingerprints. The overlapping of clay pieces gives the uneven effect that is associated with real raku. Sandpaper can enhance this look as well.

8.      At this point if you notice any places that need a bit more of a particular color, this is the time to add it.

9.      Place your piece on a tile or other baking surface. If it isn’t too tall then stand it upright, otherwise lay it on it’s side on some batting or a scrunched up paper towel. Placing on batting or paper towel will alleviate shiny spots that sometimes occur when baking polymer clay.

10. Bake according to directions on clay package.

11. Let cool then spray with sealer. If you want a glossier look, then spray 2 or 3 thin coats. Let dry.

At this point your faux raku piece is finished. However, you may decide to enhance it with wire, beads, fibers, crystals, or any other kind of embellishment you desire. I used peridot chips and small light green glass beads on a chain. I then attached wire-wrapped clear quartz stones to the chain. The finishing touch was a tiny glass bottle with a cork top filled with aquamarine and mother of pearl chips as the center charm. Since my project was a vase I chose to fill it with peacock feathers since those colors complimented the raku-like finish so perfectly!

If you would like to print this technique including a near-full size image of the layout, click here. Once you've saved or printed the technique sheet, use your browser's back button to return.

 Note: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to obtain this file. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat, click here to download and install.