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 coloured stains and clear glaze over the top

  Slip casted boxes, with feeds left on, coloured glaze on inside, clear out the outside  

 Slip casted boxes developed, with coloured glaze on inside, clear out the outside  

Slip casted boxes developed, with feeds left on, coloured glaze on inside, clear out the outside