More clay tests...

I cut out some shapes in earthenware clay and then drew portraits on top using sgraffito techniques.  I added some slip in a painterly fashion to some of the portraits, ready for bisque firing.

I also hand moulded two stamps in stoneware clay, to use to create patterns in soft clay.  I chose to create a flower and a vine pattern.

The final picture shows the beginning of a vase I plan to create using the coil method; I have started the vase here by making a thumb pot in stoneware clay on a spinner, then adding coils of clay using my hands before joining them to the layer below using a serrated kidney.  After this, I will smooth the lines out using a smooth rubber kidney.

Making clay moulds for cameos

Another idea I have had for my project relating to French aristocracy and the contrast between beauty and death is creating clay cameos, onto which I can draw portraits (either using sgraffito techniques on the clay itself or other methods).

I found some moulds that were circular and oval-shaped, in order to press earthenware clay into and create a frame-like piece.  Once I had practised these, and created some lovely cameos with different coloured slips and portraits sgraffito-d into the slip (please see photos), I made a cast of a decorative glass plate I bought in order to have a frame with decoration on to use as a mould.

 

 

 

Making clay pots for glaze and slip tests

I have decided to work in earthenware clay for my project as, when fired, it has a lovely deep terracotta red colour - ideal if I want to show the contrast between death and beauty in revolutionary France.  

My main idea is to show this contrast, perhaps through making portraits in clay or adding red colours to the inside of beautifully-shaped pots or vases that have ornamental or decorative designs on the outside.

I tried throwing and hand moulding a few pots, to which I added various colours of slip (such as blue or green) and then carving various patterns in using a needle (sgraffito technique).  Once bisque fired, I applied either clear or honey glaze, specifically for earthenware pieces.  Below are some photographs of the process.