Blue is available in two sizes: Mega Marker and Fine
Line. The ink filters through the felt nib using capillary action, the
resulting color stains the surface of the clay. The stained clay then
needs to be bisque fired to set the ink on the surface before glazing.
- To set the ink apply to bisque ware, fire the piece and then add a clear glaze and fire the piece again.
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| Useful Techniques |
| Minnesota Markers are very
effective for detailed decoration and lettering. Use a pencil to
sketch your decoration first, then draw directly over the pencil
image with the Minnesota Marker. The graphite will burn out in the
bisque fire leaving the Minnesota Marker decoration on the piece. |
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| Above: Trout Image sketched first in pencil, then decorated
with Minnesota Markers. |
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Carbon paper can be used to transfer an image to
tile. Use the Minnesota Marker to decorate directly over the
transferred image, the carbon image will burn away in the bisque
fire and the Minnesota Marker ink will remain. |
| Above: Portrait transferred using
carbon paper, then decorated with Fine Line Slate Minnesota Marker. |
| Most potters will use Minnesota
Markers under a glaze, but they can also be used to decorate
unglazed ware. They are useful for signing ware and identifying
samples. |
 |
| Left: Minnesota Marker used to identify glaze
tile |
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| Minnesota Markers have even shown promise in
decorating over fired matt glazes. Tests have shown that fired gloss
glazes are too "slippery" for overglaze decoration, but certain matt
glazes provide a hard surface that the ink adheres well to. |
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These are a handful of ideas for using the Minnesota
Markers, there are certainly many more uses out there to be
discovered. (We've even decorated tiles using a Spirograph(R)!) |
| Above: Spirograph (R) decorated tile. |
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| *Test if firing outside of this range or in
reduction. Blue and Slate best choice for firing at or above cone 8. |