Thin some clear glaze and pour into the vase. Roll the glaze around to cover the inside surface twice. Pour out the remainder of the glaze and allow the piece to drain for a few minutes. Dry the inside thoroughly. Apply 2 coats of full strength clear glaze to outside of the vase. Be sure to dry between coats. Fire to cone 06.

Apply detail to the Iris with fired gold. Use a #2 and #10-0 liner brush reserved for gold only for this purpose. Fire to cone 018.

CARVED IRIS

Working with "leather hard" greenware is one of the most gratifying procedures there is in this wonderful hobby of ours. It is always such a thrill to see your piece develop right before your eyes.

The vase pictured here uses a fairly simple pattern. If you have never tried your hand at carving before, this should be a good first piece. If you pour your own greenware, pour your piece a little heavier than usual. Let it stand in the mold overnight to bring it to the proper consistency. If you order your greenware, ask to pick it up in the "leather hard" stage.

Begin by tracing on your pattern. As you start to trace, your pattern will stick to your damp clay. This makes it easier to handle. When you have finished tracing, remove your pattern, and check to make sure you have traced everything. Using a stylus or pencil, sketch a curved line from top to bottom on both sides of the vase. With the curved end of your cleaning tool, incise this line about half way through the thickness of the vase. Now lay the pointed end of the tool (point against the curved line), and begin to carve the clay away from the line. In the manner create the look of the section with the flower being lapped over the white section. Use the flat edge of the pointed end of the tool to level and smooth the clay away from the curved edge. Do both sides of the vase in this manner.

Begin the flower by using the curved end of the cleaning tool, incise all of the outlines & center lines of the pattern. Use the pointed end of the tool to carve away the clay from the incised lines. Use the flat side of the pointed end of the tool to smooth your work as you go. Carve the deepest on the petals that appear the farthest from you. Work on one area at a time. Make sure the pattern stands out from the background, and each petal is distinct. Do not attempt to carve in any of the detail If your piece becomes dry, spray it with a little water. If you need a rest, cover your work with a piece of plastic. Smooth each area with the flat edge of your tool as much as possible. This will eliminate a lot of sanding after the piece dries.

Once the piece is dry, clean as you would any piece of greenware. Sand the area around the iris, and down the center lines for a nice flat surface. Soften the edges of the petals with a wet brush. After cleaning, apply 3 even coats of black underglaze to the background around the iris. Fire the piece to cone 03.