01/26/2023
E-Z Stroke hints part 3:
Antiquing – To use E-Z Stroke as an antiquing medium, mix the color with water to make a thin wash. Use a small unwaxed cup and a palette knife to mix the color. Do not thin the entire jar. Apply the color wash the cone 04 bisque, using as large a brush as is practical. Wipe the piece down with a dampened sponge to remove the excess color from the raised areas. Clean the sponge frequently. When the piece is thoroughly dry, glaze with a clear or transparent glaze and fire to cone 06.
Over a Glaze (Majolica Technique) – E-Z Stroke colors can be used effectively over unfired non-moving glazes and then fired to witness cone 06. Designs, patterns or scenes can be painted over nonmoving glazes. The E-Z Stroke colors should be thinned with water or Thin ‘n Shade to a consistency no heavier than light cream and applied in one or two light coats rather than a heavy coat.
Bisque Application – Although E-Z Strokes were primarily designed for application on greenware, E-Z Stroke colors are used on cone 04 bisque when an antiqued finish is desired and can be used successfully on bisque just as you would use them on greenware if you lightly dampen the bisque with clean water before applying the E-Z Stroke color. Bisque is very porous and unless it is pre-dampened, it will absorb the moisture from the color too quickly, making a smooth stroke impossible to obtain. If E-Z Stroke is used for design on bisque, it is not necessary to fire the piece before applying a glaze, providing the E-Z Stroke is thoroughly dry and the glaze is applied with a fully loaded brush so the underlying colors are not disturbed. There will be slight color variations between pieces fired to only cone 06 compared to those colors applied to greenware and bisque fired hotter to cone 04.
As a Colorant – E-Z Stroke colors can be blended or mixed together to create additional color hues. They can also be used to tint French Dimensions and Fired Snow. The usual mixing proportions are no more than 50% E-Z Stroke. They are also ideally suited for coloring or marbleizing ceramic, porcelain or stoneware casting slip because they are strong, highly concentrated colors.
