Metallic or pearl clay is run through the thickest setting on your pasta machine to align all the mica particles in the clay. Once that is done, you stamp the clay with a deeply carved stamp. Using a tissue blade or clay knife, the raised part of the clay is sliced away one thin slice at a time. When all the excess clay has been sliced away (If you've done it right), a ghost image of the stamp is left in the totally smooth clay.
The piece is then baked at the manufacturer's directions. When the clay is cooled, it can be sealed using a clay sealer, or my favorite method, it can be sanded with ever increasing grits of wet/dry sandpaper, then buffed to a gorgeous sheen. Sanding and buffing these pieces adds depth and luster to the ghost image.
I took some pictures when I was making my latest piece. I started with white pearl clay and added some spring green mica powder to it to create the look I wanted. Then I started working on the piece. The stamp I used was one from Lisa Pavelka. Her clay stamps are wonderful for this technique because they are nice and deep and flexible.
Raw clay after being stamped with paisley stamp
Side view to show depth of stamp
Piece has been baked
This week's Polymer Clay Smooshers Guild's blog roll is the Mica shift Technique. Here are some examples of the mica shift pieces from those talented artists.
This is a wonderful technique and, if done right, leads to some beautiful pieces.
Great post! Thank you for featuring my earrings in it =)
ReplyDeleteWow! What a fascinating technique! Cutting the slices off must be very time consuming. Thank you for sharing the process with us. Peace and joy . . . Catherine
ReplyDeleteThat's a neat technique if you want a smooth surface with a pattern on it. You chose some great examples of pieces made using this technique. Because there is mica in the clay, there must be a light catching shimmer, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for posting my pendant! I love this technique and the results are magical!!
ReplyDeleteJan from DreamWeaversDesigns
How interesting. It's amazing how much like tooled leather Dream Weaver's mica shift process pendant is! I like how your paisley pendant turned out...the pattern is so subtle and the finish very pearly. The photos show a clear progression of the technique.
ReplyDeleteI keep learning so many things about so many different topics! When I first began reading some blogs the topics were so foreign to me that I reread some a few times. Another blog to teach me new things. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteAnn
Putman Lake Designs
That was a great step by step of Mica shift. I didn't know there were different ways of making polymer clay items. Thank you for sharing your great information and those beauties.
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful post. I have done this method and it is very time consuming, but yields amazing results when done correctly. Your pendant is gorgeous!! Amazing work from the Smooshers as always!! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteVery cool to see the process! The earrings by drunken mimes and the pendant by dreamweaver are especially pretty. Great work.
ReplyDeleteIndeed the mica shift phenomenon yields some spectacular jewelry and other ornaments. I have just begun some experiments with it. Some okay, some not, as usual. Thanks for the post. Lisa Pavelka's book on Polymer Clay Basics is a necessity for me!
ReplyDeleteAnna
Great post on mica shift. That is always a great technique. It is also one that tries my patience, so kudos to you and all the others who are so adept at it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this mica shift technique. Very interesting, and the result is smoothing motif.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing such a cool technique. Great photos.
ReplyDeleteLisa
I always enjoy seeing what the Smooshers have been up to. Mica shifting is a fascinating process; it's amazing that a ghost image is left behind. Question from one who knows very little about working with clay - is leaving the imprint of the stamp an option that smooshers might use rather than the mica shift technique if they wanted more depth/dimension on their clay pieces?
ReplyDeleteExcellent blog post. Always wanted to learn more about different clay techniques. :)
ReplyDeleteYou polymer clay people absolutely amaze and delight me. You have so much talent and you are so intelligent about your craft. Probably lots of patience, as well.
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