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Showing posts from April, 2011

A holdup in production

I was using my Easter break for catching up with my work and now there is nothing more I can do. The studios were opened but there was no technician which means no materials and no kilns firing... I have used up all my supplies and produced enough work to fill the kiln on my own.  I can't wait to glaze my tiles, I don't want to mention how eager I am to see my tests results from 2 weeks ago... I just want my own kiln :) I feel sad when I can't work in the studio... On the other hand there is an essay assignment and I haven't started yet so I better do some reading and writing and as a dessert I will do few pages in my sketchbook :) that will cheer me up! :D

Decoration part2

I made just few adjustments today. Finding a way of getting the desired effect took me more time then I thought it will but in the end it's almost what I wanted. I think I will put some colour on tomorrow when the tiles dry a bit.

Ceramic Tips

I decided to share my tips with the world - or at least with those who read this blog. Over my 2 years in studio I have learnt some useful tricks maybe you know them already :)  1.  Talc is super useful (I was using pure talc the one you add to glazes but I think you can try it with baby talc as well) :  slipcasting - brush the inside of your mould with a thin layer of talc and your casts will relise easily each time :) But   it can also develop a shiny glaze like surface when fired on porcelain ( I didn't try it on other clay bodies) so plan before you use it and make sure the bottom part of your work in talc free as it can stack to the kiln shelf; 'glazing'- if you want nice shiny finish on porcelain brush a layer of talc on green body - clay has to be a bit wet so talk can stick to it. It's just a matter of practice to find out the perfect stage of clay and amount of talc you need. 2. Single firing  For over a year I was only single firing and nothing explod

Work in progress

This whole project takes far more time then I thought it will but I am very happy with it :) The hardest part was making models for my moulds - it was crucial to get them right so they will look good and cast well. I started with one piece wich was then reproduced 4 times to make my first mould. As a next step I have introduced some changes to the first model and again reproduced it few times, arranged and made another mould and so on. In the end I have made 4 different forms by altering one piece of plaster. After few weeks of working with plaster I have changed my approach to whole mould making - I started to enjoy it and I was surprised with the results I was getting. I think that working with plaster if far more precise then working in clay. I was casting my pieces for last 2 weeks and bave 3 of them bisqued. I am experimenting with the surface decoration now. Please feel free to comment and let me know what do you think about them :)