Contact Paper Masking
Contact paper allows you to create definite patterns on your
piece by covering parts of the piece. The normal approach is to create a
pattern of a shape that you wish to have repeated on your piece. Contact
paper can be applied to the
bisque as long as it is completely dry, even if it has already been
painted.
Step 1
Be sure the piece is completely dry before applying the contact paper.
Use the hair dryer on low if necessary.
Step 2
Cut the contact paper into the shape(s) you wish to apply to your piece. You
might want
to cut several plies of paper if you wish to have multiple templates made from
the contact paper. Also note that you have both a 'positive' and a
'negative' that can be used. In the picture to the right, the 'positive'
is the white area cut out from the blue paper which is the 'negative.'
Applying the inner 'positive' cutout will allow you to paint the outline of the
shape making a 'negative' on the bisque. Likewise, applying the outer
'negative' paper on the piece will allow you to create a 'positive' image of the
cutout on the piece.
Step 3
Apply a flowing coat of underglaze to the piece. Use the normal
techniques of applying multiple coats to obtain deeper colors with fewer visible
brushstrokes.
Step 4
Gently and slowly, remove the paper from the piece. You may wish to use
a needle point to start the paper off of the piece. Keeping
the paper close to the piece and the edges as even as possible helps reduce the
chance of pulling underglaze off the piece. If you only apply a single
coat of underglaze then removing the tape while the underglaze is not yet dry
reduces the chance of pulling it off with the paper. It is possible to
reuse the paper multiple times if you are careful.
Video
View a video of using contact paper masking.
