China clay - finishing/sealing techniques

[lindsay]

Hi there. I have a delicate china clay sculpture which I am not sure how to finish. I am nervous about using an acrylic spray as it might discolour the pure white colour of the clay but, I need something that might ack as a sealant - when you touch it you have chalk on your fingers! Any ideas would be much appreciate.

[yserbey]

hey i had same problem wiz my clay sculptures, i hate the white aspect, coz it remind m always it's a clay haha, since i think and i believe stone is a must, so finaly i start to paint my sculpture wiz wood glue, u know the thick white color stuff, but first i add water to thin z glue, let's say half water half glue , then i paint z sculpture, the result is a like stone color something dark beige, i put 3 or 4 layers, and let it set overnight, coz if u touch it, it will stick on ur finger and damage it, try first on any clay piece, if u like z result go 4 it, bonne chance.

[Andrew Werby]

Originally Posted by lindsay

Hi there. I have a delicate china clay sculpture which I am not sure how to finish. I am nervous about using an acrylic spray as it might discolour the pure white colour of the clay but, I need something that might ack as a sealant - when you touch it you have chalk on your fingers! Any ideas would be much appreciate.

It sounds like this is an unfired clay sculpture. There's really nothing that you can apply to something like that which will make it permanent. I'd suggest finding a place with a kiln that does custom firing. It would be helpful if you knew what temperature range the clay was formulated for (true "china clay" is porcelain, which can handle Cone 9). If you're not sure, firing in the lowfire range should be safe; say around Cone 04. Once it's survived the initial firing, you can apply a clear glaze and fire it again to the same temperature; this will cover the clay with a thin layer of glass, which will preserve and enhance the white color.

Andrew Werby
Juxtamorph.com

[lindsay]

Thanks for your reply Andrew. Unfortunately, this is air drying china clay so will not fire in a kiln and it is already sold!! so I dare not risk esperimenting. I will just deliver it as it is and practice on another piece. Thanks again!

[Andrew Werby]

Is this some proprietary claylike mixture formulated to air-dry but not fire? Usually those dry well enough that they don't leave chalky residue on your fingers. What brand is it? The manufacturers probably would have suggestions for coatings.

Andrew Werby
www.computersculpture.com

[GarryRicketson]

You might want to try this, if not on this piece ,others in the future,
http://www.bonstone.com/products/sealer5.htm They also have "oil" based or petroleum bases sealers,
http://www.bonstone.com/products/stoneguard.htm I use this on marble , especially the white marble,..
Also regular old HAIRSPRAY , is a good sealer, but not water proof , I used to use it on pastel drawings, to prevent the "dust" or color from coming off ,on to your fingers if you touched them,..however it tends to also darken the colors somewhat, but on plain white, it dose not affect it. I would still recomend trying it on a test piece, or very small area first.
from Garry