Recently I have been experimenting with a very dark Canadian clay.  I apply a white slip and then press botanicals into the clay to create an impression then use water abrasion to raise the impressed leave from the surface of the clay.  Using a thicker version of the slip colored with ceramic stains, I finish selected areas of the piece with a rough texture. It is really combining techniques used for the Porcelain Intaglio and the Modern Botanical work.

This graphic series is an outgrowth of my itaglio process.  Rather than plant materials, I first create hand-drawn stencils and use them as the resist to create the glaze contrast. In addition, I use a water abrasion technique which removes some to the clay around the stencil and creates a raised texture on the clay surface.   This gives a tactile as well as a visual experience when the piece is handled.  (I use Tyvek for my stencils because it holds up well to the process.)

This porcelain botanical series has become my signature work. While working with the clay to create a form, I impress leaves and flowers into the piece and use this natural material as a resist for a dark slip or glaze. After bisque firing, the surface is washed with color to create intaglio-like impressions in the highly contrasted work. See the process section in the gallery.

My goal with this series was to create a surface that had the texture and variation of reduction fired work. Spraying thin layers of various watered down underglazes allowed me to achieve the look I was striving for.  I followed this with underglaze painted botanical designs.

Pictures of work in progress that illustrate several of the steps in my process.