Some rough drawing plans for my final project – looking at rituals and altars, building my own around a fictional spiritual sect. Drawing on my own cultural upbringing so definitely a lot of influence from Hebrew mysticism, with a hearty dose of the occult thrown in!
I took myself to the museum a couple of weeks ago to draw from the pottery collection there… Lots of great inspiration. Did some quick drawing while I was there.
Still figuring out exactly where I am going, but I will share some research and workbook drawings soon!
Inspired by delft ware, trying to utilise my existing skills (drawing) with things I’m not so great at (throwing!) these are all blue underglaze on white clay, with a clear cone 6 glaze. Having a few issues with crazing but trying not to let it ruin the vessels for me.
Well.. I spent many many hours on this. Obviously too many as I suspect my over working of the joins is what caused the cracking. Otherwise I quite like the look of this piece, unglazed.
Not eeverything will be a total success! I learned a lot from constructing this anyway.
I was lucky enough to get to try a little bit of gold lustre this week. Not something I will be able to afford in the foreseeable future! I chose a piece that I made specifically for myself.
Here it is before adding lustre – dark blue underglaze on white clay, with a clear glaze over the top. Made as a painting cup, with a slot to hold a paintbrush.
And here it is after applying and firing the small spot of lustre. It definitely is beautiful!
Been cranking out the bottles/vases from my mold over the last few weeks. Finally have a wee finished selection!
More aare waiting to be bisqued and glazed, I love the look of them en masse. The same but all differently decorated.
I used carving wax for my original – just some small things to test. A little moth and a slug! I should have spent some more time smoothing the wax but it was a bit tricky to work with.
Mold is made from a silica plaster mix
Then wax is slowly melted out with steam
Very slowly….
The firing process was a bit different – and took a lot longer. Eva’s works needed more glass to fill them, so she has two terracotta plant pots set up to hold the chipped glass as it melts. Mine just got piled in as they were quite shallow.
Still could do with a polish, but I do like how my slug looks like a lolly!
Learning some different handle types – pulled, slab, coil. Tested them out on a plastic jug just for practice
Here are a few different ones I’ve tried (and fired) on various vessels. Still getting to grips with pulling, and experimenting with different shapes.
Excited about this process as I love a well fitting lid! Walls are a bit thick but with practice I think I can get them a little thinner. Lids are simply cut on an angle and a small handle added, trimmed and tidied.
Devon Smith Ceramics