Layered Dichroic Effects

The first person I ever recall using these foils (not leaf) on clay was Nancy Banks at a long ago Ravensdale. With their metallic sheen, they’re a natural for polymer dichroic effects. Artist, Lisa Pavelka has created beautiful work with her technique. This is my spin on dichroic glass.

Foil on Kato Clear Medium

A sheet of foil on Kato Clear Medium can be cut and placed onto the dichro work in progress. On the finished piece, it is represented by the orange/gold sticks.

Cut a piece of foil (this one is called Golden rainbow - Jones Tones) and tape it (colored side down) onto a ceramic tile.

Step Two

Spread a layer of liquid clay onto the foil. Bake it for 10 minutes to cure.

Step Three

When it is cool, peel the liquid clay from the mylar backing. The foil pattern is now on the cured medium.

Layered Dichroic Effects

Step One

Roll a thin sheet of black clay. Press it to a clean ceramic tile. Cut a shape with a scalpel or exacto knife.

Step Two

Cut and burnish another piece of foil onto the black clay. Heat with a heat gun.

Step Four

Lift foil from clay.

Step Five

Onto piece, apply a generous coat of medium. Bake for 10 minutes. If the medium is not totally clear, heat with heat gun until it is. Note: When heating the medium with a heat gun, please hold the gun and piece away from your face, you do not want to inhale any vapors that might be released. Work in a well ventilated area. It is also easier to heat each application to total clarity than it is to heat it all at the end!

Step Six

Optional: Stamp a pattern onto the piece. I’ve used “Brilliance” ink (Tsukinekko). Heat the ink to dry it.

Here is a close up of the stamping.

Step Seven

With scissors, cut shapes from the foil on liquid clay sheet. Press them to the piece.

Note: You may also punch shapes out of this sheet. Just place the medium side of the sheet on a piece of tissue before you punch. The tissue will prevent the cut out from getting stuck in the punch.

Step Eight

Apply a light coat to the entire piece. Cure the medium. This will secure the cut pieces and keep them from floating in the next heavy application of medium.

Note: You could cure and clear this layer and stop - not all dichro is encased.

Step Nine

Apply a thick coat of medium. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes and clear with a heat gun. Here is what it looks like.

Step Ten

For some reason, the stamping seemed to disappear - well, it was hard to see. So, I stamped on this layer. Heat the ink to dry it.

Step Eleven

Apply a thick layer of medium and cure for 10 minutes. FYI, this is what mine looked after the 10 minute baking.

Step Twelve

Here is the piece after heating it with the heat gun. Cut away any medium that ran off the sides. It is ready to be set.

other examples using different materials:

Left: Pigment ink dabbed onto silver foil.

Center: Alcohol inks dropped onto silver foil. The piece is not this red!

Right: Foil on medium sheets cut and placed on black clay.

Close up, left piece.

Close up, center piece. The “Good Luck” character was punched from a foil on medium sheet.

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