PMC = Precious Metal Clay
I have worked with the silver metal clay before with mixed results. It is a little bit like trying to sculpt with bubble gum. I have not been pleased. But a week or two ago, I got a book about using enamels with pmc. I thought the book might give me a little guidance – this stuff can’t be that bad to work with or no one would use it. I have to say, the author is my hero. So far, my favorite bit of advice has been:
When working with metal clay, a good rule of thumb is the 10-80-10 plan. This means plan to spend 10% of your time working with the wet clay, 80% of your time on the greenware sanding and finishing, and 10% of your time on postfire finishing.
PMC works in several stages. You have this wet bubblegum stuff that you make in to something. Then you let it dry overnight. Then you have a dusty clay “greenware” piece that you can sand and file to your heart’s content. Then you fire it. I did not appreciate the greenware stage appropriately. I just cut the circles, stamped the leaves (see below) and then left these to dry. All the rest I did in the dry stage. What a difference.
I am thrilled to pieces with these two new silver enamels.
(edit: can’t get the other image to post tonight. I will try again tomorrow.)
These are silver, stamped with a hand carved stamp and then filled with enamel. The discs are about the size of a quarter and are slightly rippled, giving them a kind of organic look. The ripple was purely a coincidence – I fired them on a three pointed trivet and they bent a bit while firing. I liked they way it looked, so I didn’t try to flatten them. It’s like a leaf in a puddle.
I also invested in a tiny little dremel tool. It has a lovely wire brush attachment that polished these up to a nice brushed finish. Not too shiny, just right. They will be in the shop soon, although I may just have to keep one for myself.
Becka
I hope you don’t mind me commenting on your blog to say thank you for relaying such useful information.
It is just the sort of information my visitors like and I shall be pointing them in your direction.
Beautiful end result too. We all work with trial and error – even when we are supposed to know what we are doing!
I remember the words of Al Pacino. He says every time he starts a new acting role it’s as if he has forgotten everything and he has to start all over. I sometimes feel that way too about my work.
Peter
The more the merrier! Thanks for reading!
Oh Becka Becka….I am on-line looking for project journal examples because I am going to have my 8th graders do them and whose blog do I come across ?!
I didn’t know you were working with PMC. We have to talk soon.
I have a beginner’s kit languishing in the studio waiting to be played with……………
Hugs,
kim
PMC is my fiber antidote. Too much fiber and I just need something else to do. They are related in weird ways and not at all in others.
Hi Becka. I stumbled across your Etsy stuff and I wanted to say how gorgeous your work is!! How long does it take you to dye your fabrics? They’re so gorgeous. I primarily work with PMC, and I have to agree that it’s much easier to work with as green ware. Carving, is so much better than playing with wet ‘gum’ :P Your piece came out very pretty…I love the enameling!