Fingerprinting

With the fingerprint technique you use your own finger as a stamp. The oval shape of a print is the perfect starting point for all kinds of little figures: an owl, a fox, a tree or a cheerful little person. With a fine brush or writing bottle you then add the details.

What do you need?

  • Ceramic piece of your choice
  • Underglazes in various colours
  • Your fingers
  • A sponge
  • A fine detail brush, writing bottle or ceramic pen for finishing

How it works

Dab the sponge in a thin layer of glaze. Pat excess paint off the sponge well. Press your finger onto the sponge and then firmly onto the ceramic. Let the print dry. Then use a fine brush to add legs, eyes, ears or branches to the print to complete the figure. Combine multiple prints for larger scenes: a tree full of owls, a row of little people or a family of animals. Instead of your finger, you can also use foam sticks of different sizes.

Tip: Different fingers give different sizes. Use your little finger for small figures and your thumb for larger ones.

Examples

View some examples of what’s possible with the fingerprint technique: View fingerprint examples →