Test, Test, Test, Test...

I have begun testing for my ceramics and fresco, attempting to gather as much information as possible about the materials I am using and what it is I plan to accomplish. For the moment I have set aside the idea of imagery and am less concerned with what I paint on the surface, and more focused on the emphasis of these two materials and their contrast in surface. My goal for now is to focus on variation in surface and contrast of glaze and fresco and their relationship with form and color. 

I have tested multiple clay bodies at multiple temperatures, for example earthenwares at low temperatures and porcelains at mid temperatures. The importance is in the absorbency and slowly I am gathering information about the best clay and clay absorbency to work with my fresco materials. 

I recently discovered the fresco/stucco pottery of Teotihuacan Mexico....the exciting part is that these concepts and techniques have been done before and I believe that I can find good information in what was accomplished historically.

Mexican vase with fresco paintings on surface...

Some clay bodies are more receptive to the pigments and I have had a few successes by testing them with water. In the images above you can see one of my tiles I was able to sit under water and the pigment stayed as it was. I have tested a combination of painting layer with sand and others with marble dust as my aggregate. 

The next step is to apply these techniques to curved and glazed pieces.....