Mocha Diffusion

[Former_Member]

Hiya All,
Just wondering if anyone has tried/has an interest in the Mocha Diffusion technique? Would be great to hear of anyone's experiences with it.
Many Thanks,
Steph

[Former_Member]

I have not done it, but there is an interesting how-to video here: http://ceramicartsdaily.org/pottery-making-techniques/ceramic-decorating-techniques/mocha-diffusion/

[Former_Member]

Thanks for the link guys :)
Steph

[Former_Member]

By the way, lovely work Julia...especially love your "Ceramic vase, modern bottle, black and white, earthy, minimal, pod-shaped pottery decor, Forest series"...great bold shape and design.
Best of luck with the new kiln :)

[MostlyStoneware]

I have used a modified "mocha diffusion" technique on wet glaze.

I use a cobalt oxide and vinegar mixture dripped by the drop from an epoxy bottle on wet white glaze.

[Former_Member]

Thanks Kathy,
On glaze you say ( I didn't realise they might be alkaline enough to react with the tea)? Nifty, What kinds of results did you have?
Cheers,
Steph

[MostlyStoneware]

Steph, I will see if i can get a picture, I think the "very traditional" method uses tobacco juice spit into a spitoon full of colorant, but i just use cobalt carbonate/cider vinegar on a wet glaze that i apply to leather hard dark clay.

I bisque these and then apply a clear glaze after that and the glaze functions as a slip. Been a few years since I did them.

[MostlyStoneware]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stonewear/4976717601/in/photostream

that's the only example I could find. It is done with one glaze, tinted, layered, and I used a black stain with the vinegar.

[Former_Member]

Kathy, those are some nice results! interesting.

[Former_Member]

thanks, Stephanie.

[MostlyStoneware]

My tea on that one was simply black mason stain and apple cider vinegar.
That pot was bisqued and then glazed with several layers of glaze. (One glaze with colorants mixed in it.)

The 'tea" was dripped over several layers of colored glazes previously applied in layers , ( I think another potter here in Canada does a similar thing with slips).

I really like cobalt tea on white glaze or slip. Really travels.

[Former_Member]

Thanks for the link and info...... can't wait to try out the mocha fusion ideas. It's so FUN to try something new!

[Former_Member]

Dear Kathy,
Many thanks for the link, that piece is gorgeous. It looks more like a really subtle pencil rendering than glaze :) Did you use clear glaze over the tea after it was fired? (I'd heard this can fade out the tea mark to varying degrees). Interesting too that the tea was applied to bisqueware, previous examples I'd seen were all applied to slip on green ware. Thanks for your generosity :)
Take care,
Steph

[MostlyStoneware]

This is going to sound confusing but I used my normal white or a clear glaze and colored it for repeat layers of glaze, then I made a tea of black mason stain, ,cider vinegar, and a bit of the base glaze.

Done on bisque ware, application is the trickiest, keep some glaze to drizzle on from a bottle and have your "tea' in a small needle nose bottle to apply quickly to the still wet glaze. No clear needed because you've just done glaze on glaze.

I am sorry I can't explain it better, it just involves a good white/clear base glaze and colorants, and the "tea". The base glaze functions like a slip on bisque ware.

[MostlyStoneware]

I will try to do some more of these and see if I can make the process clearer with some pictures.

My husband says my glazes are "boring" right now. he sees a garage floor full of pots glazed the same way and says I'm in a rut. I need to go back and play a bit as soon as my orders are filled.

[Former_Member]

Thanks Kathy :) Play sounds good! Great to fire up the senses again and just see what happens, yeah? I had some great fun cutting and reforming some coil pots recently...found shapes that I never would have done purely by drawing alone. Nice that your play time has been interrupted by orders though, a problem I would like to have:)
Cheers,
Steph

[KowalskiPottery]

I have recently discovered this technique and it is much fun being creative with the decoration. Most of the comments describe what I have found so nothing new to add except that I am new to the community. Enjoy!