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There are many surface crackle techniques for polymer clay. Most involve applying a special paint. The one discussed here involves crackling the clay itself. Why? Hasn't crackling been SO done already by so many? I wouldn't disagree. But due to a recent discussion where someone on Facebook asked the gang how to do one specific effect, I took the bait. Not having done much in the way of crackling as a surface technique, I proposed theories (reverse engineering) on how it was done. Naturally, one must test their theories... right? So the fun begins. |
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Which specific effect am I talking about? Something Agnes did. Agnes posted her work on flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/primatoide/ She mentions something about "controlled crackling". One curious soul posted Agnes' crackled beads photo on Facebook and asked the subscribers how it was done. The query started a nice long thread. No one knew for sure. But there were lots of suggestions about how to do general crackling effects.My mind lit up! Gears were smokin'. Agnes' controled crackling effect had so much potential. My own analysis of her pieces - the greatest clay stiffness was where the fractures were largest - in the center. As distance from the "center line" increases, the stiffness decreases and the fractures are smaller. Conclusion - the application of a temperature gradient, where the temp is highest in the center, then decreased on either side. Then the clay was stretched. But because the surface was partially cured, it fractures instead doing a smooth stretch. Later the surface was backfilled with a dark pigment (paint or ink). One main reason I love polymer clay. It's so versatile. My exploration began - how to replicate that pattern without knowing how Agnes did it. "Ouch", the rusty gears are a'spinnin'. |
7. | Rated R! Here's a naked crackle piece; done using an electric charcoal starter. The clay sheet has been contured to help highlight the fractures. |
status: finished as a technique sample |
10. | more techniques may appear! :) |
Enjoy clayin' and crackin''. Desiree |
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Last update to this page: 12 May 2014. Send comments, questions or suggestions to Desiree McCrorey. |