How my FMP2 developed.
My Aim was
to produce a
range of high quality functional and useable ceramic boxes.
I did this by experimenting with two different
methods of making the boxes, slab building and slip casting them. I tried both
methods out as I feel that I needed to improve on my slab building and this technique
allowed me to manipulate the clay by pushing objects into the clay to create
textures and surface pattern. I am more confident in the mould making/slip
casting process so along with the slab built boxes I created a range of slip
casted boxes as I feel that they will be more sophisticated.
The concept behind this project was to create
a range of handmade ceramic boxes which can be used in a different ways e.g.,
storing special objects, jewellery, memories, photos in one place and keep them
safe in the boxes or just to have them on display. As inspiration I looked at a
wide range of designer/makers focusing on form and surface pattern
The colour scheme:
Using
the stains I have bought from Potclays and the glazes from Mayco these were the
colour scheme. (Nice bright colours?)
To
experiment I used the stains in 3 different ways:
· Mixing the
stain to water and then painting it on bisque pieces
· Mixing the
stain to the clear glaze
· Mixing the
stain to the slip so the colour is already in the clay.
· The method which
worked best was mixing the stain and the dry clear mix together as this gave the
best solid block colour
Adding
surface pattern:
·
I pushed a selection my jewellery into the clay
to get an impression.
This
will gave me a selection of different imprints and depths in the clay.
The
forms
Step
by step:
Slab
built boxes:
·
For
the forms I rolled out slabs of clay and then pressed my jewellery pieces into
the clay to get an impression
·
Then
bisque fire them to have a stamp (which will let me create the same pattern
over and over again)
·
Then
I cut up the clay slabs when at the leather hard stage and make slab boxes.
·
After
the slab box had gone leather hard, I made plaster moulds of the boxes so could
slip cast them and create replicas.
·
To
show development I made different sizes of the slab built boxes. Also I decided
to leave the feeds on some of the slip casted boxes to see what this would look
like. I liked the outcome.
Another
method of creating the boxes
Slip
Casted Boxes
·
I
Created 3 different sized boxes with lids to fit in plaster, and then created 3
part moulds.
·
With
having the moulds this allowed me to play around with surface pattern.
·
I
created collections of boxes, some
plain, some textured
Overall I am very pleased with this project and feel I could continue
this project and develop it more as I could create different patterns to place on
to the boxes.
Slip casted boxes, with feeds left on, coloured glaze on inside, clear
out the outside
Slip casted boxes developed, with feeds left on, coloured glaze on
inside, clear out the outside
