Skip to main content

1...2...3... testing...testing...

This week was a great challenge for me... I had tried to build my units out of porcelain, paperclay and finally fibreclay. In the beginning nothing worked - the curvy strips were getting straight when they dried or they weren't strong enough to build with them.
Even now I still don't know how they will turn out after firing.

Porcelain moves a lot in the kiln and I like it but this time I have to find a way to compromise it's desire to move with my idea of form I would like to achieve.

Here are some of my test from this week.
I am planning to fire them on Friday so the results will be on Monday. Please keep your fingers crossed for me :)




This are just porcelain tests the middle one was a W and that's what is left of it after few hours.
The last piece and the cylinder probably will collapse in the kiln... Well we'll see :)





Now that's paperclay. As you can see on the bottom photo it also went flat after joining two pieces. I really hope the middle piece will survive :)


I was testing paperclay only because I need to work with 'light' porcelain - it is suppose to move less. I definitely did't want the paper look so the 'Sandwich Clay' come up as a next test. It is a sheet of paperclay laid between two layers of porcelain casting slip. This proved to be stronger but stiffer as well.






At last: FIBRECLAY!!!! It is porcelain slip mixed with nylon fibre  2000:100 g.
It is nice and soft, stronger then paperclay and lighter then porcelain. I think it just might be a winner!!!
Now i have to test  how thick/ thin I should make it.
I am getting excited again :)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dublin

In last two months I was in Dublin more often then in whole 6 years of living in Ireland! This week I was very lucky to be part of Ceramics Ireland Exhibition which takes place in Rathfarnham Castle starting this Saturday until 27th August. The Castle itself is interesting thing to visite but the exhibition is located in one of the rooms that wasn't renovated and it looks amazing... But more about it in my next post... Now I wanted to show you some photos I took that day... As some of you have noticed I like Architecture and Patterns so don't be surprised :) Hope you'll like them :) I do :)

Final Project :)

Hi again :) This time I have just one FINAL project :) I had to pick something that will keep me interested and excited for a whole year so it may not be a surprise to some of you that I decided to base my work onece again on architecture. Most of my inspiration photos are already in the previous post -I just love the patters and reflections in them. Here are some of them just to remind you what I have in mind.  And here is what I did in PhotoShop to bring some of the plans forward and broaden my research.  Now I just have to do the magic and get something interesting out of them in my sketchbook :) I am looking forward to do that but on the other hand I know it is a tough project.... Well I hope to update you soon with my drawings and swatches :) Please let me know what you think :)