Making Terracotta Tiles with a Plaster Press Mold

This is how I made the bee tiles in the sawdust kiln video.

The original tile was made with polymer clay which was cast in plaster of Paris. I used regular old hardware store plaster, but a special pottery-grade plaster can be used for a more durable longer-lasting mold. Silicate attacks plaster so if you're doing slip casting you might want to spring for the pottery plaster.

My preferred technique is to mix the clay to a very soft consistency and smash it in by hand. I have also had great luck using a flat piece of wood and a t-shirt to press the clay in. Be sure to support the mold with something like a few layers of towels over a flat board so you don't break it. I might revisit the topic some time and get a shot of this.

After the tiles dry for a few minutes, they will come loose from the mold. Then they are flattened and set out in the sun to dry.

I hope to make a few dozen of these and tile my kitchen backsplash with them.

I got some good insights from this video:
   • OCC Ceramics: Using The Press Mold