How To Create Stone Effect

[jlees1996]

Hi I am new to ceramics and am trying to make some sort of sweetie bowl styled like a little duck pond from air drying clay, my plan is to have rocks all the way round the rim of the bowl, but I don't know how to make them look like realistic rocks. First of all do I need to fire it in a kiln. What substance do I use (paint, glaze etc.) ?

 

The kind of effect I want is the way the rocks are done in these two sculptures of an otter....

[neilestrick]

Air dry clay like you get from the craft store will not be water tight, and cannot be fired in a kiln. For water tightness, you'll need to get clay from a ceramics supplier, and it will have to be fired and possibly glazed. Unfortunately, there are a million different variables to deal with, so if you are not familiar with clay and glazes and firing we really can't walk you through it here on the forum. Your best bet would be to take a ceramic class. However, if you're just looking to make something decorative that does not have to hold water, then you could use just about any paint to get the effect you want. Make the piece, let it dry, then paint it. It will remain quite brittle, so be careful handling it.

[Chris Campbell]

I have no experience with air drying clay but I can tell you about layering colors. Those dark lines are made by covering the object with a dark coloring agent then wiping if off so it only stays in the cracks. Then you sponge on different colors until you like the results. It's almost like the faux painting on walls. You use a light, medium and dark range of color. It will look hopeless at some point but eventually looks just like rocks. Add a bit of green too for moss if you like.

[Idaho Potter]

This may be heresy, but Sculpey clay can be fired in your oven and it comes in a variety of colors and can be painted with acrylics. Works especially well for jewelry or small  sculptures.

 

May the Clay Gods forgive me.

 

Shirley

[neilestrick]

This may be heresy, but Sculpey clay can be fired in your oven and it comes in a variety of colors and can be painted with acrylics. Works especially well for jewelry or small  sculptures.

 

May the Clay Gods forgive me.

 

Shirley

 

I think that's a much better option than air dry clay, since it will be hard and durable, and allow for painting techniques like Chris described without breaking or smudging the piece.