Sgraffitto Using Hues 2 Fuse

 

Hues 2 Fuse colors for glass are non toxic pigments that can be applied to a wide range of glass surfaces. They can be applied to fusible glass and kiln fired in the normal fusing process. Or they can be applied to wine bottles or other "non fusible" low coefficient glass and kiln fired in a slumping process. A fun technique to use with the Hues 2 Fuse colors is a sgrafitto technique that incorporates COE 96 fusible glass.  

White or Black glass make good glass surfaces for a sgrafitto technique because the white and black will show through where the color is scraped away. The contrast of either white or black against the Hues 2 Fuse colors will really pop.

A sgraffitto design can be created on a piece of black or white fusible glass and then a larger piece of complimentary fusible glass can be fused under the white or black glass to "frame" the design and to add thickness to the glass.

 

To create a sgrafitto design using Hues 2 Fuse colors, blend desired Hues 2 Fuse pigments in a ration of 2:1 with the Hues 2 Fuse glass media on a pallet. Apply a thick layer of the blended color to the black or white glass. Leave 1/2 of the glass uncoated to serve as a border for the design. Several shades of color can be applied to the glass. The colors can be blended together where they meet for interesting effects. Loose shapes and designs can be created in the wet color by laying contrasting colors into them. For example, it is possible to create roses, by puddling a portion of of G511 Shell Pink into a larger puddle of G509 Merlot. Drag a pencil point or needle tool through the Shell Pink in a circlular motion to create swirls of pink and deep rose resembling petals.

 

After you have created a satisfactory loose design in the wet colors, allow the wet colors to dry  until the surface of the color is no longer shiny. Do not allow the color to dry completely to the point where the colors are very light and chalky looking. The colors will chip off in large pieces when scratched away if the Hues 2 Fuse has been allowed to dry too completely.    

 

Using a needle tool beginning removing selective Hues 2 Fuse pigments from the glass in a desired pattern. You can choose a line art design to carve into the color or you can elect to carve the pigments away around one of the designs created in the wet color to tighten the design and add shading and contrast.  When the design is completed, the pigment can be allowed to dry completely and the loose pigments pieces can be removed by inverting the glass.

 

After the scraffitto process has been completed, place the glass in the center of a larger piece of complementary compatible fusible glass. Place the project on a piece of Thin Fire paper on a kiln shelf in a kiln. Fire the project according to the following firing schedule:

Rate 1- 325/hour Temp 1 - 1275  Hold 1 Ten minutes

Rate 2 - 585/hour  Temp 2 - 1460 Hold 2 - 4 minutes

Rate 3 - 9999  Temp 2 - 960 Hold 2 - 1 hour

 

In a kiln using pyrometric cones, a cone 016 can be used. Fire the kiln on low for an hour, medium for an hour finally allow to mature on high. Do not open the kiln until cool.