How to finish ceramic sculptures with waxes. Tutorial

In this video I am showing few techniques of finishing ceramic sculptures with wax.
List of productsMINWAX Pase Finishing wax
Sonite Wax by Smooth-on
Rust-Oleum paint satin colonial red
Tremclad paint gloss finish Regal red color
Krylon Workable Fixatif
Black Wax by Sculpt Nouveau (Patina and metal finish)
Brown and Black Shoe Polish
www.joannamozdzen
Email [e-mail]
Instagram joanna.mozdzen.10
Facebook Joanna Mozdzen

[@karenloewenthal1824]

All of your people exude such serenity and peace, it is so refreshing. I also love that you use household items to polish rather than expensive finishes. You are a superb artist. Thank you

[@yourratking]

I've been trying to find this video again after so long. I'm so lucky someone linked this video on a facebook post. Thank you for this lovely video!

[@ZsoltPlatthy]

Your tutorial is so helpful and clear. Just what I needed to finish my clay sculptures. Thank you for your generosity and wisdom in sharing your expertise.

[@brucemcnally3924]

Dear Joanna, I cannot thank you enough for the enjoyment and instruction your many videos have given me over the years. You gave me the courage to start sculpting the head in late middle age and my first piece was my father from memory - he died when I was young. I only wish I lived in Canada so I could join your students in your studio. I always recommend you to any of our ceramics group who wish to take up sculpture and your example has been a great inspiration to my granddaughter. Sending you my thanks for and appreciation of your great talent.

[@CAZZIEK321]

This is so useful, thank you. My tutor showed me how to apply graphite mixed with 50% shellac and 50% Methylated Spirits. You can then buff it and once dry, apply a wash of an acrylic if desired. Good to see your method too.

[@barbaracyktor9461]

Uwielbiam Pani prace. Pani głos sprawia, że muszę pracować w glinie według Pani wskazówek. Tworzy pani nastrój porywający do tworzenia, kreowania własnych pomysłów dzięki Pani pomocy. Bardzo dziękuję za wszystkie pomysły wykończenia rzeżb. Często wracam do zapisanych Pani filmów. Szkoda wielka, że nie ma kolejnych filmów. Bardzo serdecznie pozdrawiam i proszę o więcej 😊❤.

[@ninamenduni8229]

This video is an absolute gem! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!!! Your work is gorgeous!

[@SethKaine]

Very nice sculpts with nice technical wax. The faces look so alive with the closed eyes. Bravo!

[@cuppalentilsoop]

This is sovery helpful - it's hard to find thorough info on this process. Thanks!

[@babettegemmell8692]

You are wonderful you keep the subject simple and clear with a very pleasant voice

[@Kam-nv1wg]

Thank you so much for this tutorial. I bisque fire my clay using charcoal. The temperature is never high enough for melting glaze. This method is very suitable for my work.

[@b.wildart]

This is amazing. I'm still a fairly new to pottery/sculpture. I would love to try all of these techniques. Thank you for sharing your beautiful work.

[@janwillemkrijger9688]

Wonderfull explained❤

[@rodrigogoguiroae5598]

Great tutorial, Joanna, I've thinking about use grafite before glazying, you gave me some ideias for testing, thanks a lot

[@JetCooper3D]

Fantastic video and amazing results! Thank you for sharing your techniques. Inspiring!

[@ireneraspollini]

Subscribed! I just approached clay sculpture and this tutorial is gold. Beautiful works!

[@jeanmichelparera8473]

merci.....

[@manufeoh2190]

Grazie ❤

[@MartaAbadia]

Thanks for sharing all that wisdom! 🌈💓

[@gerrystevens9041]

i think your heads are so brilliant joanna.

[@sunitashankar24]

your tutorial is very helpful. Thank you

[@dezi1768]

Beautiful work. I really enjoyed your video.. Thanks so much for sharing.

[@edzu2771]

This is gold. Blessings to you friend :)

[@itsshepherd5618]

Thank you! This is very helpful!

[@womack4ful]

Thank you for sharing this. It’s perfect.

[@JoannnaMozdzen]

Glad you like it!

[@lenabar1996]

Incroyable résultats.. vraiment parfait... bravo

[@CHERKOV]

[@celesteduffy703]

I appreciate you. Lovely work and this is so useful to me. Thank you

[@JoannnaMozdzen]

Glad it was helpful!

[@juniorjimenez6381]

Thanks for sharing your tips :) Beautiful work!

[@debbiewilliams2832]

Love your work!!!

[@mosseyw]

Beautiful, thank you for sharing

[@ЕвгенийПарахин-щ3г]

Прекрасные работы!!!!

[@troylumpkin]

Beautiful work. And great tips! I used to use hairspray as a drawing fixative. I wonder if it would work over wax 🤔

[@antonislekkas9699]

Thank you so much! Very interesting techniques. Instead of graffite powder can we use powdered pigments?

[@francesluck6597]

Beautiful!

[@nkosinathingele1158]

I love this

[@kavieira]

On the first piece you applied MINWAX Pase Finishing wax and then followed with Sonite Wax by Smooth-on? Thank you so much for your video.

[@meiashagray9384]

This is great, wondering if you can refute these pieces after using waxes

[@kotsiakartstudio5885]

Bravo!

[@العراقجمجمةالعرب-ش6ب]

Fabulous 👏👏🌷🦋

[@JoannnaMozdzen]

Thank you! 😊

[@pileofhagfish]

Thank you so much, I'm so glad for the variety you showed; your work is lovely, and your explanations concise and helpful

[@lindamoulloud7435]

Bonjour, je suis française et il n’y a pas de sous-titres sur votre vidéo mais j’adore ce que vous faites. Pouvez-vous me donner le nom en français des produits que vous utilisez s’il vous plaît. Encore félicitations pour vos oeuvres

[@carinevigo9443]

J’aurais tellement aimé que votre commentaire soit en français. Dommage bonne année 2024 à vous.

[@bethcooper1789]

You do a wonderful job explaining. Thank you so much, really appreciate your information!!

[@deborahmason4253]

I greatly admire the sculpture Water. Have you considered doing a How-to for the acrylics?

[@JoannnaMozdzen]

Yes, I am planing to make video about acrylic finish in the future..

[@deetransformed]

Beautiful technique and sculptures. Would the sculptures have to be re-waxed every few years or so? Will the waxes ever come off on hands, etc. if the piece is handled or placed in a warm area?

[@cathymellett163]

Joanna, how did you remove wax from the sculpture when you didn't like the look? Thank you.

[@tinalawler4973]

Is the powder the same thing you buy for locks please?

[@ferneyandrescoral6535]

Wow You are amazing! Could You share the materiales to finish,? it's because i'm from Colombia and i would like to know them but un spanish! God bless you

[@JoannnaMozdzen]

List of materials is in description below the video.

[@artoflife109]

Mega ciekawe!

[@sandrinegaspard2464]

Good morning, i like your work and i try too . I have the question : on the last piece, you use the sponge. The sponge is it wet or dry ? And the wax is it dry or no when you use the sponge ? Thank you for you reponse and félicitations for your sculptures

[@JoannnaMozdzen]

I used dry sponge with scrubber. I didn’t like the uneven look of the surface. Some areas were to dark and some very light so I scrubbed some of the wax with graphite. I suggest applying thin layer of wax and then graphite powder . Good luck

[@Creative0538]

Can we fire clay in studio or should I buy a kiln

[@womack4ful]

Instead of heating up the wax, have you tried mixing it with mineral spirits?

[@JoannnaMozdzen]

I will try next time.

[@qatsi4897]

Beautiful sculpture work. Just wondering, will the fixatif not come off or craquelure in time because it is on the wax?

[@JoannnaMozdzen]

I use workable fixatif and it works fine. I have couple of old sculptures ( 10 year old) with that kind of finish and they are fine.

[@ЕвгенийПарахин-щ3г]

Супер!!!!!! 👍👍👍👍

[@sanalkumar4564]

It's really awesome ♥️ I would like to try on my sculptures also....I have a doubt is the wax will come out after dry? because we use wax at the bottom of pieces when we glaze the pieces, so that's coming of after few hours.can you please describe about that?

[@JoannnaMozdzen]

You are using pottery wax resist. It is very soft, almost liquid wax which is supposed to burn out during firing. Use flood wax or shoe polish.

[@sanalkumar4564]

@@JoannnaMozdzen thank you Joanna Mozdzen.

[@carinevigo9443]

😢 oh. j’aurais tant aimé avoir cela en français je ne comprends pas

[@suni9625]

Hello, do you think I use these waxes on Plaster of Paris or Cement? I am making my first life cast of a hand. I am new to this so don't know anything 😅

[@JoannnaMozdzen]

I guess it will work on plaster

[@imjeannette]

so you just fire it once then wax it? do you glaze it?

[@JoannnaMozdzen]

No I don’t glaze . I experiment with different finishing techniques.

[@NorwegianArtist65]

Do you use the vax on bisque fired and unglazed items?

[@JoannnaMozdzen]

I use wax on bisque fired sculpture. If you use wax you can not use underglaze on top of it.

[@NorwegianArtist65]

@@JoannnaMozdzen So all the items in the video was only bisque fired? Is the process the same no matter what clay? eathenware/stoneware? with or without chamotte?

[@JoannnaMozdzen]

It is the same process on any kind of water based clay after firing.

[@NorwegianArtist65]

@@JoannnaMozdzen Thank you so much

[@patrissiasaillet]

Dommage que je ne connaisse pas suffisamment bien l'anglais 😢😒

[@leblancsopjie3811]

En français svp

[@cocolonger]

Beautiful!

[@JoannnaMozdzen]

Thank you!

[@robynsmith8337]

Thank you for sharing this info! Your sculptures are beautiful. I was wondering, do you only bisque fire these pieces then apply wax, or do you use the two-step firing process?

[@JoannnaMozdzen]

Most of the time I fire only bisque but sometimes I use the finishes on work after two steps firing

[@robynlynn80]

@@JoannnaMozdzen thank you!

[@gailevans7633]

Thank you!

[@Mitchim0t0]

Hello, Are the terra cotta pieces bisque fired or fired twice? Thank you

[@reginahawk]

Joanna, do you apply was to a bisqued sculpture or to a cone 6 fired piece? Thank you!

[@mikebreler9724]

Can you please provide the name (generic or commercial name) of the clay you are using. I can't seem to find it. I have various types of Plastesina types of oil based clay. Thanks for any guidance.

[@dennishansen8930]

Thank you for sharing this beautiful technique. A great alternative to bronze and enables the artist to maintain control of the creative process.

[@JoannnaMozdzen]

You are welcome

[@judykonopka9029]

Do you fire twice or just once? I love these ideas!

[@sashawhitehead7378]

Thank you Joanna, your work is beautiful and the tutorial very clear and helpful. Sasha

[@gerrystevens9041]

you have converted me. i thought i had to always use sculpey glaze [very expensive]. these pieces are beautiful..

[@wendydee3007]

I have never seen such lifelike, and beautiful, ceramic sculptures. You are very gifted.

[@elisavelasquezlive]

Thank you for sharing. I will use your technique.

[@otherworldceramicscaroline424]

Your work is beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

[@carolparkes6031]

Such beautiful work. I'm inspired to try wax and graphite on my garden sculptures. Thank you for sharing your technique s

[@humblehombre9904]

Your voice, and your accent, as well as your mannerisms are just so warm and beautifully comforting. I just love the sound and your beautiful way of speaking. A great pleasure to listen to. Thanks very much. Warm regards from Canada. I look forward to experiencing all of your video library!

[@AdriEstradaArt]

Beautiful. Do you think these techniques would work with air dry clay sculptures?

[@kieutran5983]

Thanks so much for sharing these finishing techniques! Are are you applying these finishes to bisque or final fired unglazed sculptures?

[@JoannnaMozdzen]

I am applying it to bisque

[@kieutran5983]

​@@JoannnaMozdzen Thank you for responding! I don't understand why you would apply to bisque. Are you using low fire clay?

[@JoannnaMozdzen]

I am using low fire clay and I bisque fire it to cone 04 - 06

[@kieutran5983]

@@JoannnaMozdzen I've never used low fire clay. Thanks for explaining!

[@explodingstatue]

Would this work on plaster?

[@CharlesTryon]

I've used shoe polish before, but this goes way beyond that! Beautiful work!

[@LucasSavelli]

SO INCREDIBLE!! Thank you so much Joanna for sharing!

[@davifdmatthew3861]

incredible work, technique!! Thank you

[@richarthmalasquez7496]

Joana no sale la opción en español...no entiendo el proceso😭

[@meenaraj7270]

your work is wonderful and so much information thankyou for your generosity.

[@jrmartinez1839]

Totally obsessed about your work and techniques!!!!

[@priyamtiwari5992]

Thanks for sharing such wonderful information, can you advice if I can apply wax and graphite to air dried clay sculpture without firing it??

[@sarahevans1580]

I'm going to try this with some of my air dried pieces soon ...excited

[@jean.D54]

Thanks you very much for this tutorial. This is very helpful. I am a begginer so could you tell me if all of this technics work with plaster ?

[@JoannnaMozdzen]

Yes

[@CustardBustard]

I actually love the glossy red

[@harrietblank6812]

Your work is magnificent!!!! Thank you for showing us these finishings.

[@JoannnaMozdzen]

Glad you like them!

[@sarahevans1580]

Your work is stunning 😍 wow.

[@edgeavalanchee]

Your amazing!

[@MrArtton]

Fantastic 👍🏻👍🏻

[@lucianamelo8833]

Ficou lindo!

[@rimakonstantinidi8437]

Amazing

[@trudyrunyon4473]

Would this work on an air dried sculpture?

[@JoannnaMozdzen]

I don’t use air dried clay. You have to experiment.

[@trudyrunyon4473]

@@JoannnaMozdzen Thank you for the response!

[@MediaFuser]

All of the materials you are using (except the wax) were meant for drawings or art on paper. That fixative you are using says what it is for on the label (Not anything hard) It is meant to soak into paper and then get hard to avoid smudges. We don't use ANY of that on hard surfaces because over time we have discovered that it doesn't last. The wax is just folly. All you would have to do to see that wax can not be part of finish on a ceramic sculpture is sit it in the sun after. You are part of the reason why "learning" from just anyone online who is talking - IS A BAD IDEA!

[@JoannnaMozdzen]

You don’t put art sitting in the sun. I have sculpture that were finished with wax many years ago. They are perfectly fine.