SESSION 4

Mould Making

In today’s session I got shown how to make a mould. As you can see from the images, the edges around the models are very neat (where the plaster meets the clay model). This creates a neat seam line, meaning that you won’t need to neaten up the slip casted piece that much.

If you have a messy mould this will mean your slip casted piece will be very messy and will take time to neaten up. If you put the time into your mould it will take less time to neaten it up. 

This group of images show my decoration on my Bowl.
Session 3 

In this session I learnt how to use stencils to decorate a form

The top image shows the stencils which i have cut out of paper.

The two images below show the bowl with black slip on it and i have painted it on with a brush and using the whirler to get a nice even finish. 

Some Technical Stuff:

Pint weight of glaze = 28 fl oz

Pint weight of water = 20 fl oz

Dry weight of glaze = 8 oz

Bentonite = is used as it is a suspender which stops the dry part of the glaze from separating from the liquid (water)

Calcium Chloride addition = is also used as it is a suspender which stops the dry part of the glaze from separating from the liquid (water)Also it makes it easier to apply coatings of even thickness when it has been mixed into the glaze.

 Tongs = are used to hold a piece of ceramics.-

Lets you hold a cup/bowl and allows you to dip the shape into the glaze with minimum finger marks placed on the form 

   

This clever piece of equipment is called
a Torsion Visc Commeter.


Session 2 

Wasting no time we got stuck in ! 

   The image below is a Torsion Visc Commeter which measures the Fluidity of the Slip. 

   So to use it you have to :

   make sure the dial (the little pointer) is on one 

  fill the little container with slip and stir for 1 minute with a glass rod
  then spin the dial round (anti-clockwise)
  let it stop - this reading shows the fluidity.
  leave for a minute (this will allow the slip to go a little bit thicker)
  then spin the dial again (anti-clockwise) 
  let it stop - this reading shows the Thixotropy
  leave for another minute and the slip with get thicker

  then spin the dial again when we tested the Fluidity.

When we tested the slip our readings where

273 - fluidity

267- thixotrophy 

264 - thixotrophy 

what Thixotorphy means - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thixotropy

After using the Torsion Visc Commeter and we were happy with the readings we got started on the Slip Casting. We casted all day as this is a good way of getting loads of casts done as everything is set up and will save you time in the long run.

We ended up casting two big platters, loads of tea pot lids, some forms that I shall be using to create my sculpture! and casted two tea pots. which  get decorate mine and take it home J

!Below shows my TeaPot in the making ! 

The First Session 

As it was the first session, we discussed what we both wanted to get out of this work experience.

objectives:

how a 'real life potter' works in his studio 

learn as many new skills as possible:

 new glazing techniques, 

applying new surface pattern techniques, 

how to create a form by using slip casted pieces and joining them together 

how to create molds by using found objects as the model

how to set up a kiln/pack a kiln 

So with a few objectives discussed we started to do some work.

I learnt the 

weight of water - 1 pint = 20 fl oz.    (563ml)

New Glazing Technique :

Dipping -

As Uni has finished for the summer, I wanted to do some thing positive to further my ceramic knowledge.

So, I googled Ceramists in Stone and found Mark Dally Ceramics. Then I got his email address from his website (markdallyceramics.co.uk) and started to email him about doing some work experience for the summer. 

Thankfully he emailed back with the best news. I could work with him through out the summer.