Friday 17 January 2014

Me & my practice.

The Nameless Collection... 
 I have been trying to work out of my comfort zone lately, I suppose that's what university is there for? To find new horizons. The collection I cant seem to name, it stemmed from architectural geometric patterns from the local areas of Stoke on Trent. I wanted to explore my newly found interest of coloured slip, I started off on my samples Stencilling, but I quickly switched to Sponges. Cutting various shapes and sizes to my liking and what would flatter the shape. As for the shape? I wanted to combine two very primary shapes to discover a new exciting shapes. I found myself drawing these..


Which later evolved to...









Bit of Blue?

Bit of Blue?
Experimenting with slip casting cups. Looking at patterns, colours, application.
I just wanted to use various applications, Stencils, Sponging slip on, Reverse printing.
I loved doing these cups as they opened many doors for me in my what is normally refined way of working.






Back to College

Back to College. 
Llandrillo College, Rhos on sea. Was one of the best experience for me as a maker.
As that's were my interest started in ceramics.


^A wallpaper print slab built vessel^

^Exploring Volcanic Glazes^

 


The two above are both hand built, coiled vessels. Each stand around 2 feet tall.
Each and every butterfly is hand crafted.

Layering

 A Vicky Shaw inspired slab.

Using large repetitive patterns over laying the slip decorated surfaces I think adds another dimension to the surface.With an effect of depth. I think I will use the Monoprint technique and this spring pattern again. 

^ I adore the spring like pattern. Raw state.^


^As you can see from the above,
when stencilling you have to try and get the edges as flat as possible
 to reduce the risk of it leaking.^

^Glazed state^

Architecturally Inspired slab

Architecturally Inspired.

I took a walk around my campus and local area taking pictures of different architectural aspects that could inspire me. I wanted to aim for a different outcome from my usually floral/nature inspired work. I think I achieved that aim with my Design Make Manufacture module.

                   



  
^ Here I have used small cut out squares,
laid them on the clay, brush cobalt blue slip over,
made slight indents with the end of a brush
and
then added circles of Monoprinted cobalt oxide wash.^

^I have experimented with transparent glazes,
 leaving different sections unglazed for textural purposes.^

A Class with Vicky Shaw.




I have been exploring different ceramic techniques  with artist Vicky Shaw such as Stencilling, Monoprinting & Layering Surfaces. Experimenting with various coloured slips has expanded my knowledge about applying slips and mixing up my own. Using the method called Stencilling, you cut out any stencil you desire, smooth onto the clay trying to get as little gaps as possible then brushing slip on top, wait to dry and peal the stencil away carefully leaving the slip behind. This was my first attempt at Stencilling, it is a very enjoyable technique. Here I have also done some Monoprinting with a cobalt oxide wash.


^ In raw state^

^Raw state^

^Glaze fired^

^Glaze fired^

Thursday 16 January 2014

A Touch of Wood?

First Year - Second Semester 2013 Staffordshire University
So what did my first year in university bring? Exploration, Excitement, Earthenware? All of the above and much more. During this particular module we were asked to combine to materials. So I immediately thought of ceramics and wood, but instead of quite literally putting them together I thought I'd incorporate one into the other. Putting wood elements into a ceramic outcome. To hopefully create a beautiful product
Because of time issues I only managed to make a sample cast pieces.





^ hand built over a hump mould, hand craved ^





^ The three above are slip casted then hand carved by myself.^