Chalking adds a finishing touch to a ceramic piece.
Ceramic artisans sometimes use chalk to decorate their creations. Ceramic artisans use different methods to apply the chalk to a piece of ceramic. Chalking gives ceramic creations a soft glow that is similar to the finish on porcelain. The pastel finish of chalk enhances the texture of a ceramic piece. Chalked ceramic pieces are suitable only for decorative use, to serve food or for cooking. Glaze the inside of a chalked vase to make it water proof if you plan to use the vase to display fresh cut flowers.
Basic Application
The basic application of a stain to a ceramic piece will help the chalk colors stand out. Use a base coat of acrylic stain and apply two thin layers of stain. Allow the first coat to dry completely before applying the second coat. Select a color of base coat acrylic stain that compliments the colors of chalk for your project. Apply the acrylic stain with a stiff brush to achieve a smooth finish. Make sure to apply the stain in all the crevices of the ceramic piece.
Dry Application
Choose your colors of chalk to apply to the dry acrylic base coat. Use a knife or a piece of rough sandpaper and scrape the chalk to create a find dust. Apply the chalk to the base coat on the ceramic piece using a soft bristle brush. Spray the chalk with a porcelain chalk fixative. Use a matte finish fixative for a soft finish. Continue applying layers of chalk dust followed by a coat of fixative until the color is as deep as you like. Allow the fixative to dry completely between chalk applications.
Wet Application
Prepare a selection of colors of chalk by scraping the chalk to a fine powder. Dip your soft bristle brush in water and then dip the wet brush into the chalk dust. Apply the wet chalk dust to the ceramic piece. Apply the wet chalk to only one area at a time. Allow each coat of wet chalk to dry prior to spraying with a matte finish porcelain fixative. The wet chalk method of chalking ceramics allows you to blend different colors of chalk.
Accents
Chalk achieves a soft glow for areas on a ceramic piece that require highlighting or blended details. Chalk brings out pastel flesh tones for ceramic figurines. Use dark color chalks to deepen shadows and create detail. Layer pale pink chalk over a peach color chalk to add a rosy blush on the cheeks of figures.
