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#1057 Cross with handmade flowers				#940 & #37(Base)
		For further information regarding this project, contact the artist at: Connie M. Bailes P.O. Box 473 425-788-2467 E-mail: CbArtDzine@aol.com     SNOWMAN W/TREE & BIRDHOUSES   Painted with Victory Spanish Colors Artist: Connie M. Bailes

PREPARATION:

1)      Pour the tree and base in White Porcelain slip.

2)      Clean the seams and score any needed

detail.  Cut out a hole in the middle of the base large enough for the lighting fixture to fit and a hole on the side of the base for the electrical cord to slide through.  Note:  Depending upon whose porcelain you are using it can shrink anywhere from 15% to 20%.  Be sure and make your holes large enough to allow for the shrinkage.  Cut small holes for the openings in all three bird houses.  Make three small holes each under a different tree branch in the back of the tree.  This will help allow the heat to escape when lit.

3)      Allow to dry thoroughly.   Note:  Any moisture remaining in the greenware, when painting with Victory Spanish Colors, will not allow the oil based paint to penetrate evenly.

VICTORY SPANISH COLORS, PAINTING INSTRUCTIONS:

Bird House #1, (located at the top right of tree)

Bird House #2, (located furthers left)

Bird House #3, (located center bottom)

Note:  Do not paint the tree, the base or the snowman’s snow body..  These areas will remain white when left unpainted.

Note:  Between color changes and when finished, clean your brushes with soapy water and rinse in clear water.  Be sure and squeeze out all dampness between paper toweling before proceeding to next color.

1)      Draw a pencil line where ever there will be a change of color.  (Between the roof & sides of the bird houses, between the scarf and the snowman and so forth. 

2)      #203, Lupin Blue:  Paint 2 coats on the roof top of Bird House #1

                                     Paint 2 coats on the hat & mittens of the snowman

3)      #500, Yellow:  Paint 2 coats on the front and sides of Bird House #1

                             Paint 2 coats on the rope on the hat of the snowman and on his scarf

4)      #612, Apple Green: Paint 2 coats on the roof of Bird House #2

5)      #418, Rose:  Paint 2 coats on the front and sides of Bird House #2

                                 Paint 2 coats on the snowman’s buttons, nose & ear muffs

6)      #316, Off Brown:  Paint 2 coats on the roof top and bottom slate on Bird

                                   House #3. 

7)      #202, Medium Blue:  Paint 2 coats on the sides and front of Bird House #3

EYES & MOUTH:                  

Paint the eyes and mouth of the snowman with one coat of Black under glaze

FIRING:        

Allow your greenware to dry overnight.  Fire to the porcelain manufacturer’s recommended cone.  Note:  If using Colorific Porcelain the recommended cone is a Junior cone 6.   Fire the porcelain base upside down on a kiln shelf coated with kiln wash to prevent sagging during firing. Do not fire the tree on top of the base. 

 GLAZING:

Note:  If a compressor is not available to you, proceed by brushing on the glaze with a soft fan brush.

Heat your porcelain in your kiln or household oven just until it is too hot to handle.  Do not over heat.  Use a cloth or oven mitt to remove the piece from the kiln and place it on a turntable inside a spray booth.  Rotate the turntable while using a Glaze gun and Compressor to spray the piece with a High-Fire Clear glaze.  Note: When the ware has cooled and the glaze will no longer stick, you must reheat the ware, and then repeat the process.  Allow the piece to dry.  Note: Before glaze firing, remove all traces of glaze from the bottom of your piece with a sponge and water.  This is referred to as dry footing.  NEVER stilt porcelain.

Glaze fire porcelain to Cone 2.

LUSTER (Optional):

1)      Cover the tree with one light coat of Mardi Gra Luster.  Exclude the snowman, bird houses and base.  Fire to a cone 018.

MATERIALS LIST:

MOLD:  RiverView #940, Snowman w/tree, Riverview #37, Grass Base

VICTORY SPANISH COLORS by Colorific Porcelain: #203 Lupin Blue, #500 Yellow, #612 Apple Green, #418 Rose, #316 Off Brown, #202 Medium Blue

DUNCAN UNDERGLAZE: EZ012 Cobalt Black

LORETTA YOUNG PRODUCTS:  Mardi Gra Luster

HANOVIA:  Liquid Bright Gold

 For further information regarding this project, contact the artist at:

Connie M. Bailes

P.O. Box 473

425-788-2467

E-mail: CbArtDzine@aol.com