How much sand do you put in your clay? I fill this small bowl to about 3/4's full then add that to between 9-10 pounds of clay. 

Harvesting Cochineal.  Ethical ways? Is there an ethical method? And does it work?

I've recently thought of an acquired a method to harvest "Dead cochineal" will this method be more ethical than other methods of harvesting live ones; only to kill. 

My method is, once the cochineal dies of natural causes; freezing, falling of host plant, succumbing to natural causes sun, air, or ground ect.. I then harvest in a glass jar and leave the lid off to prevent suffocation. If they are alive I then would return to the host plant. 

Is this more ethical?  Have I broken the Vegan Rule?

I'm attempting to make black slip.  Is this possible with water and graphite?
   

Photos are diesel and graphite then dried and burnished with a river rock