Firing the Designs on to the Plaques

To create the designs, specific areas on each plaque are coloured with enamels. The powder is applied through a sieve, and using a stencil, or template specially cut to shape. The stencil is removed and the plaques are fired.

The final process in making the plaques, is to apply the detail of each of the motifs and to fire them to make them permanent.

Here are some of the finished plaques.

In the next post - Starting to Construct the Sculpture

Following on from the last post, the enamelled copper shapes are now placed once again in the acid bath until the fire scale has all been removed. This means that none it can get into the enamel powder and appear as small black specks in an otherwise pure, clean colour.

When they have been rinsed and dried the plaques are ready to be enamelled on the front face. I have chosen to use white and apply colours later.

The process is much the same as for the reverse, except the work must be supported in the kiln on a folded metal stand known as a stilt or trivet. This means that the smallest possible area of the enamel on the reverse is in contact with the stilt, as it will re-melt and stick to it. The enamelled plaque may need to be quickly removed from the stilt whlie it is still hot. as the firing process can cause it to bend. It is placed under a heavy heat resistant weight to flatten it as it cools.

Two or three layers of white enamel are applied and fired carefully, keeping a eye on the firing time. If the work is in the kiln for too long it can get over-fired, causing it to change colour. White enamel will become greenish and transparent around the edges and this would spread to the whole of the piece the longer it is left in the kiln.

In the next post - Firing the Designs on to the Plaques.