Technical Notes

摘要

I have always enjoyed the immediacy of slab building and this along with hand modelling has been my chosen method throughout my work. Recently I have cast shapes to help with 'cake baking'. Early work was made using White St Thomas clay with coloured slips painted on to the slab-built forms and fired to 1180 deg C in an electric kiln. Recent inlaid work involves making batches of coloured clays. Body stains are mixed into White St Thomas and thoroughly kneaded until the colour is completely integrated. Thick slabs of St Thomas are rolled and left soft. Coloured clay is rolled into very thin strips and laid on top of the slab in a chosen arrangement. The coloured clay is then rolled into the thicker slab until a background is formed, more coloured clay is applied, again in torn shapes, tiny coils etc. Adding and rolling continues until the desired result is achieved, hopefully to the thickness of clay wanted. The shapes are built and joined when the clay is leatherhard then fired to 1000°C. I draw onto the bisque ware with underglaze pencil to unite the design. Sometimes the interior or part of the form will be glazed using Matt Dolomite, Vellum Matt White or Rust Red. The inlaid surfaces are left unglazed. I fire to 1245 deg C.