This is how I made the leaf mosaic pieces.
Press leaves into a smooth slab of clay.- Thickness should be uniform.. Mine was about 6mm thick in this case. I have used wild geranium, nasturtium, bouganvillea and cluster fig leaves.
Then, when the clay has firmed a little more, cut around the shapes with a pottery knife (or an ordinary kitchen knife- that works too)
Leave overnight. Do not pick up the pieces or handle them while the clay is soft.
The next day, once the clay is past the floppy stage, you can lift them and carefully remove excess 'between bits' for recycling.
Use a damp sponge to clean up the edges, leaving the leaf on the surface, to protect the leaf imprint in the clay from being wiped off.
Peel off the leaf and gently wipe edges one more time.
Now allow them to dry. Not too fast or they will start warping.
They are fired 2 x after this, you can apply the colour pigments or underglazes at this stage or at glazing stage, it depends on the effect you want.
The lovely "surfboard" shape of the leaf is wonderful to work with- look how they fit snugly together on the board while they dry. So easy to work with and put into position.
 |
| Craig's Table |
 |
| My table top in progress |
 |
| Sally, my mosaic student did well with her 2nd mosaic project |
 |
| One of my first leafy table tops |
 |
| mosaic seat in progress, with red leaves, a cat and other bits and pieces |
 |
| Green glazed leaves over a brown pigment in the veins of the leaf detail on table top |
 |
| An easy mosaic project, using leaf mosaic pieces in dove grey, blues and mauve |
 |
| 'mosaic lessons' and various mosaic things decorating the outside of the Knysna Pottery House |
 |
| an owl and a hare with various odd leaf tiles that no one wanted |
 |
| More chair seats using leftover leaf mosaic pieces |
 |
| Sally, my mosaic student, doing a fine job of an umbrella stand for her mother, who is the owner of one of my first leaf table tops. So this umbrella stand will match it nicely. |
