Dianne. You mention that your colors bleed together, and that you
lose the distinct colors. I gather that you are wetpacking. As you
lay in the individual colors when wetpacking be sure to push to
grains of enamel together tightly using a small fine bladed palette
knife. Carefully blot dry by just touching the enamel surface very
lightly with a piece of absorbent paper toweling. Lay in the next
color carefully, and blot dry. Some of the moisture may seep into
the first application, so redry it if necessy. You want just
enough moisture to be able to lay in your enamels so that they do
not run and bleed into each other…Another method of laying in
colors so that they are distinct is to use stencils. Do one color
at a time. brush away any stray enamel, fire it, and then do the next
color fire it, and so on. There are excellent books on enameling
which describe in detail many of the basic as well as advanced
techniques. Start building up a library of your own and refer to
them regularly.See if there is an enameling guild in your area and
join it. Enamelists are very generous about helping each other, and
are always happy to have new members join their ranks. Regarding
silkscreening. There are many methods enamelists use–some
hi-tech,and expensive, some low-tech, and inexpensive. I tend to be
a low-tech person, unless I need to do something that definately
requires more sophisticated equipment. Individual enamelists have
their preferences. My suggestion, if you have never done any silk
screening at all, is to go to your nearest art supply place and see
if they offer silk screening classes. Although they will not be
working on enamels, many of their techniques, such as types of
screening materials, making screens, correct registration of
screens, use of brayers and squeegees , resists, etc. are
applicable to enameling. Once you have learned these techniques, it
is easy to learn enameling on copper. the major difference is that
you will be using either versa colors, (sold by Thompson Enamel), or
overglazes also sold by Thompson. And also, you will be firing the
work.
This would be simple silkscreening of enamels. There are also
methods of photo-silk screening of enamels. Most of this information
can be found in books on enameling so check them out, experiment with
simple designs at first and then before you know it, you will be
making great progress. Good luck.
Alma