Talavera Tiles

Talavera Tiles

 

 

Step 1: Print out a template with your desired numbers or letters.
 

Step 2: Trace your print out on to a 1/4 inch slab of clay. The slab should be rubber ribbed and smoothed prior to tracing. Do not spray the clay prior to putting the paper on it.

The best results will be on clay that is almost at the leather hard stage. Use a dull pencil or a dull modeling tool to trace over your lines. This should be completed within an hour of tracing. If it takes more than an hour the paper will stick to the clay.














Step 3: Peel away the paper. If there are pieces of paper stuck on the clay, the paper will burn off in the kiln. The lines can be kept faint or carved into further with a loop tool depending on the desired depth.

 

Step 4: Before the clay gets too dry, gut the clay with a ruler and fettling knife. Smooth your tiles with an elephant ear sponge. Each tile has initials and the class period carved into the back.

















































Step 5: Slowly dry out the tiles before the bisque firing. If dried too quickly they will warp.

Step 6: Apply 2-3 layers of the liquid opaque white over the entire front side of the tile.

Step 7: Depending how dark you want your colors, you can apply 1-3 layers of your Majolica glaze over top of the white glaze. Majolica is similar to water colors. If one layer is applied it will be transparent. When three layers are applied it is much bolder.