Activities / Lippan Kaam / Lippan Mud Mirror Art

Lippan Mud Mirror Art

Lippan Mud-Mirror Art: Clay Relief and Mirrors on a Board

Level: Intermediate
Duration: 4 - 8 hours (plus 2 days drying)
Budget: ₹1,100 – ₹1,500
Age: 12+
State: Gujarat
Craft: Lippan Kaam

Materials

Square MDF or plywood board, 20 x 20 cm (8 x 8 in)
Air-dry clay, white
Acrylic shisha mirrors, round, about 1.5 cm
Acrylic paint set (white and 2 to 3 colours are used)
Round paint brushes, sizes 0 and 4
Water-based matte varnish
White craft glue
Sandpaper, toothpick, butter knife, damp cloth, jar lid, bottle, jute twine, card, newspaper

Steps

Cover the table and rough up the board with sandpaper
Cover your work table with newspaper and set the board on it. Rub the whole front of the 20 x 20 cm (8 x 8 in) board with sandpaper for two minutes, until the shiny surface turns dull, so the clay has something to grip. Wipe off the dust with a damp cloth. Common mistake: skipping this step. Smooth boards let dry clay peel away in one piece.
Brush the board with watered-down white glue and let it dry
Mix one spoon of white glue with one spoon of water in a small cup. Brush a thin coat over the front and the edges of the board, and let it dry for 30 minutes until it feels tacky and not wet. This helps the clay stick and stops thin boards from soaking up water and curling. Wash the brush at once, because dried glue ruins it.
Tip: Also brush a coat on the back, since an uneven board warps as the clay shrinks.
Knead 400 g of clay and split it into 300 g and 100 g
Knead the clay for two minutes until it is smooth and no longer sticks to your fingers. Divide it into a 300 g lump for the base layer and a 100 g lump for the relief coils, and wrap the 100 g in cling film or a damp cloth. If the clay feels dry and cracks, wet your hands and knead again. Common mistake: leaving the lump uncovered, because it forms a dry skin within an hour.
Press the 300 g of clay across the board in a 5 mm layer
Place the lump in the middle of the board and press it outwards with the heel of your hand, then roll a bottle over it, working from the middle out. Aim for an even layer about 5 mm (a quarter inch) thick that reaches all four edges. Trim any clay hanging over with a butter knife, holding it flat against the side of the board. Smooth with a damp finger. The surface should look like fresh plaster.
Tip: Use two sticks 5 mm thick as guides for the bottle, one on each side of the board.
Mark the design lightly with a toothpick
While the clay is still soft, press a 6 cm jar lid gently into the middle to leave a circle. Around it, mark eight petals, each a teardrop about 3 cm long, pointing out like the petals of a flower. Mark a border line 1.5 cm in from the edge of the board. Use only light scratches, because you can smooth them out and try again. Step back and check that the petals are evenly spaced.
Roll thin coils and press them onto the lines
From the 100 g lump, roll snakes about 4 mm thick between your palm and the table, and cut them to length. Wet the marked line with a damp finger, lay a coil along it and press gently with a toothpick so it sticks. Follow the circle, each petal and the border line, pinching the ends together where they meet. Roll all coils to the same thickness, because the pattern looks neat only when the lines are even.
Press a mirror into the centre of the circle and each petal
While the clay is soft, press a 1.5 cm acrylic mirror into the middle of the central circle and into the middle of each of the eight petals, nine in all. Add four more in the corners if you like. Push each one down with your fingertip until the clay comes up level with its edge, and wipe any clay off the mirror with a damp cotton bud. Mirrors should not move when pressed.
Tip: Peel the protective film off each mirror just before pressing it in.
Dry the board flat for 2 to 3 days without heat
Leave the board flat in a shaded, airy spot, away from a heater, hairdryer or direct sun. Thicker clay dries slowly, so allow two to three days, until the clay is pale, hard and no longer cool to the touch. Check for cracks each day and fill small ones with fresh clay and a drop of water. Common mistake: drying it fast, which causes big cracks and curling.
Paint the relief white with two thin coats
Use the size 4 brush for the large flat areas and the size 0 brush for grooves. Paint the clay white, keeping paint off the mirrors (wipe any splash straight away with a damp cotton bud). Leave 20 minutes between the first and second coats. White makes the pattern look sharp. If you still see grey clay after two coats, add a third.
Add touches of colour or gold in the grooves
With the size 0 brush and a small drop of paint, pick out the coils or the area between petals in red, blue, yellow or gold if your set has it. Keep the colours to two or three, which looks better than many. Wipe the brush on a paper towel often. Let this dry for 30 minutes. Common mistake: loading the brush too heavily, which clogs the grooves.
Seal with matte varnish, then glue a hanging loop on the back
Brush a thin coat of matte varnish over the painted clay, avoiding the mirrors, and let it dry for 2 hours. Turn the board over and glue a 25 cm piece of jute twine or ribbon across the back in a loop, with both ends on a square of card, using white glue. Let the glue dry for 24 hours before hanging. Hang it on a nail or hook near the top of the board. Keep it away from damp walls.
Tip: Test the loop by lifting the board with it before you hang it on the wall.

Sustainability

Medium - mud-based craft; acrylic mirrors and paint are plastic-based

Safety

Clay dries out skin, so moisturise afterwards; use acrylic mirrors, not glass, so there are no sharp edges; clay dust irritates lungs when sanding