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tanaNia is about beads work made from clay. Original design by Nia Gautama, a contemporary ceramic artist based in Indonesia. The artist loves to combine clay beads with any creative and found objects to create jewelry. All her products are exclusively handmade design so no single product will be exactly the same. She makes her works with passion to find beauty to her customers.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Basic Color Clay Application

Experiment with clay is very exiting. Here I share to you the step by step to have fun with clay.
As my previous tutorial is 'how to make color clay', here I show you the easiest technique to get color clay effect. In nature, there are some types of clay, here as example I used brown stoneware clay and white stoneware clay, so you don't have to add stain or pigment into the clay, the natural color gives it's own beauty.

Step 1

Take a little bit brown clay and white clay. Cut into pieces like the picture on the left.










Step 2

Pile up the clay orderly (or as you wish): white clay-brown clay-white clay-brown clay......








Step 3

Press it delicately, so the clay will stick together properly.








Step 4

Lay it down








Step5
Press again, this time a bit harder, until you get the desired thickness. In this example, I made it about 3 mm thick.








Step 6
Here is the result of step 5









Step 7

Cut into neat square as shown in the picture on the left. Arrange them orderly upside down (or as you wish) so you will get the checkered pattern.
In this step, better you layer clay paste into each side of the clay strip (look at the white arrow). The purpose of the clay paste, is to make the clay stick each other properly.




Step 8

Roll it again delicately









Step 9
Ta daaa!!!....you get the pattern....
Create your wild imagination!
You can use this pattern into anything

I'm sure you have wild imagination and creation....
This pattern is an example only.
You are free to create your own patter.




You will find the complete tutorial in my first book about 'working with clay'. The book will be launch soon this August - November by PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama as the publisher.