Leaf Pattern Earrings

With these I really wanted to emphasise the texture rather than just creating leaf-shaped earrings with leaves pressed into them. I think I used a tomato leaf for these, the veins have to be prominent enough in the leaf to make a decent impression in the clay. 

The round shape was pressed halfway to the desired flatness and then I pressed the leaf into the clay to create the texture. They are coloured with pigments. To get a smooth application of pigment without having it fall into the grooves of the impressed texture, I found using my finger was actually best. 

 

 

 

When I tried this method with a brush, it just ended up muddying up the texture of the surface with bristle strokes and having the pigment dust fall where I didn't want it. I got a minimal amount of pigment on my finger and smoothed it over the top until it had that smooth metallic look I was going for.  Then I cured them and attached them to ear wires. 

These earrings are for sale here on Etsy.