The plaster strikes back... not really. Everything is disappointingly uneventful and expected.
The additions of plaster were built up until it looked like one final coat was needed to smooth out everything and bring the plaster just up to the glaze level on the ceramic.
Mix up another batch of plaster from the Plaster of Paris, PVA, and distilled water. Increase the amount of PVA in this one because it will help with the smoothing and stability of the outer surface. Also, make the consistency of this plaster a bit runnier than the one for the interior layers--- shoot for soft, not stiff, frosting. Still, it needs to not drip off of the surface.
Looks about like this:
Smear on a coat, trying to keep things smooth and avoid getting any visible clumps in there.
Continue this coat onto the ceramic, like a skin, so you can be sure of a smooth seam.
Take this plaster and coat the mat-board you set aside earlier. This layer is what the paint will be absorbed into on the vase, so this is where you can test out your colors as you mix them up and match them. Get the plaster to the sides of the mat-board because this is what you will be holding up to the vase. It just makes it easier.
Once this layer on the vase is dry, very carefully clean/scrape/form the plaster back to the filled in break. This takes a while and there is no sense in rushing. The surface becomes soft and workable when you wipe it with a damp sponge. I will shave back unwanted plaster with my finger nail and a micro-spatula, then take some of the shavings, moistened with water, to fill in any dips.
Once it hits 'good enough,' walk away and let it dry. Hold off on mixing colors and painting until you have a long day of good light ahead of you. This being the winter in the Pacific Northwest, I might be waiting a few weekends.
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