| Techniques in Ceramics, Sculpture and Painting |
Ceramics
| Cuerda Seca
Cuerda Seca (Dry rope) is a technique known since the Umayyad Caliphate, and fully developed in Al-Andalus period, in the X century, in which a mix of manganese, oil and wax resist lines serve to keep the different glazes separated whilst being fired. The effect is likened to a glazed ‘stain glass’ or cloisonné effect. It is fired at low temperature (985 º C).
| Majolica
This technique involves painting the bisque tile with a majolica white glaze, opaque and shiny, made of silica, ash calcined sodium, lead and tin. With the addition of metallic oxides, color designs are applied to the pottery.The piece is fired at low temperature (985 º C).
| Decoration technique
Using colored glazes or oxides directly on the bisque piece and then we add a clear cover or glaze. It is cooked at low temperature (985 º C).
| Engobe
An engobe (slip?) is a suspension in water of clay particles and/or other components used in the production of ceramic ware. The mix of particles with water is applied to the ceramic piece to create a protective layer before being cooked as a bisque piece.
| Entubado
Another way to achieve the technical effect of the ridge and arista is moulding, a technique consisting of stamping a tile of soft clay with a mould.
| Glaze | enamel
A layer of a glass-like substance which has been fired at high temperature (1200º). It forms a protective moisture-proof coating. In addition to this functional aspect, it enables a variety of surface textures, including degrees of gloss and matt, and finished colour. Used mainly for modeling murals.
Sculpture
| Relief modeling
Consists on building a surface with clay from which a drawing is done in relief. Once the piece is finished it is cut into small pieces and fired. Then the mural is reassembled and decorated with oxides. Then one by one are glazed with enamel. Once finished the whole process is mounted as a tile mural.
| Sculpture with plates
From clay plates, objects, pieces and sculptures are sculpted and subsequently fired and decorated.
| Bronze Sculpture
This is an ancient and highly skilled work in which the figure is molded in a full-size scale over a structure made out of various materials. Once a production mold is obtained, wax is cast from the mold.
Painting
some of the painting techniques used in “El Tallercito” are:
