Object to Object 24 - Experiment with Ceramic1

First Experiment with Ceramic

I made a paper model to help me sculpt the clay. I started by choosing earthware clay as the material to carve with a nail. The whole process took over six hours and as the clay dried out during the carving process, I needed to dip it in water to assist with the carving, but due to the fragility of the overall structure and the shrinkage of the clay, the pattern broke during the drying process.

I asked technician James at Ceramic Workshop about this and he suggested that I could try taking the finished pattern to the shelf ready for firing after the next carving to reduce the number of times the pattern is moved before firing and to reduce the possibilities of breakage.

Further Plan

1. Experiment with different types of clay

2. Try adding colours to the clay