Terracotta Fish – Oil on paper 7×10

First Pass – background is FLAT!

object lesson: Jackie – make and destroy

 

object lesson: Jackie – make and destroy.

Ceramic Tumblers

It’s been a busy semester – we made lots of tumblers and finished them by experimenting with  lithophanes, silk-screen printing, red iron decals and firing at different temperatures. My favorite effect is the glass-like quality that was achieved in the higher heat of the gas kiln.

Altered Faceted Form

Ready for the gas kiln

Tumblers with Red Iron Decals

Tumblers with cone 10 glaze

Gas kiln melted the stamped green pattern

I like how the excess glaze pooled in the bottom of the tumbler

Another example from the gas kiln

We made lithophanes for some of the tumblers

The lithophane cups were screenprinted with Dr Who and fingerpainting

This cup was stamped,spoged and fingerpainted- reminds me of Delftware.

Dr Who cup

Dr Who – inside view

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Well into the mold making project. The remaining 6 mold pieces were completed without too many complications but it was a slow and tedious process. Removing the cast form from the mold and then cleaning it up proved to be another challenge! The first one broke as it was being released from the mold, the next two broke as I was cleaning them, finally on the 4th try I removed the form from the mold and fired it without cleaning. After bisque firing I added a clear glaze and hoped for the best. The glaze was applied too thickly and the form was fused to the kiln shelf! We VERY CAREFULLY removed it with a hammer and chisel ,and I was able to grind the bottom down to a smooth flat surface. It’s hard to see in the picture but the glaze pooled in the top and turned to glass. It’s very beautiful however, it was an accident and I was very lucky that it didn’t break!          

Encouraged with this success I poured 3 more forms. The last one was turned upside down and I removed the very top portion to form a vase. Tried different glazes on each one. The glazes were thinned somewhat to help from over glazing. I was very pleased with the black glazed vase. I plan to experiment further with glazing and decals on  remaining  2.

Second Mold Section

The new mold section was a little hard to separate from the form, but came away after a few taps with a rubber mallet. The next step is to clean the new piece and sand it smooth, put everything back together, section off another area with clay and pour again.Repeat, for each section.

Ceramics

 The faceted form was divided into seven sections that will be poured separately. The nesting piece is the largest mold section and the carved form will sit  into it. The second mold piece was created by clamping the cottle boards around the nesting piece and form. I then created a  dam of clay by following the section lines. The plaster was poured after checking that all was sealed tight.

Faceted Form – Slow Progress

Top View

Side view 2

Finally finished carving my form! I have been working on the faceted form steadily, allowing it to naturally reveal it’s shape. Progress has been SLOW because the techniques and tools are new to me.  I imagine an experienced carver could have whipped this out the same day it was poured!

I was being too careful – by shaving with a razor and chisel, and getting nowhere fast. Katie Parker, my professor, suggested I run the form under water. What a difference that made – not only did it cut down on dust but the added moisture made it feel as though I was carving through soap.

Side View

I think it is beginning to resemble a  “desert rock rose” . Today I’ll be creating the nesting piece which is the central section of what will become a 6 piece mold.

Spring Semester

Ceramics Class

We are going to learn how to make our own molds this semester.This is a picture of a plaster block that I cast and am in the process of carving a free-form faceted shape. It doesn’t look like much –  but I’ve spent about 4 hours chipping, scraping and gouging away it it. Today I carved for 3 hours and I think it’s starting to take shape. It’s quite messy but I don’t mind. There is a feeling of satisfaction and a little excitement as the form begins to reveal itself.