A Glimpse of the Process

It's been quite a while since my last blog, so I thought you all might like to know how it is going and show the production of my new work.

Below shows the progress for work over a period of about 6 weeks.

First the clay is laid out in large slabs, these are left for a couple of day until they are leather hard.  I then cut out pieces almost at random, pairing them up and then putting them together with slip (watered down clay).

When they have reach the stage below then are left to dry slowly before firing.  Unfortunately the piece in the middle did not survive the firing, this was down to me rushing and not allowing it to dry out completely before putting in the kiln.

The piece at the front just fitted into my kiln, it was interesting to see how much it shrank in firing, about 10%.

      

The picture below shows how I decided how I has going to paint the piece and the balance of colour.  I wanted the green below to almost shine out.

          

I usually work on several pieces at the same time. This gives me time to think out the final finishes and to change my mind.

Arc (2)  H48W85D12 cms

  

    

Crux H72W54D8 cms wall piece

               Arc (4) H50W40D20 cms

The third firing was very successful, everything came out as I hoped. Some of the pieces are fired separately and then glued into place.

Arc(1)  H49W69D11 cms

I had no idea how I was going to make the pieces below, but when I put the components together, I wanted them to appear light & bright.

    

Arc (3)  H66W40D20 cms

Fall D54W26D11 cms
Wall piece

I do hope you have found this interesting and if you you would like any information, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Process from start to finish

I am often asked how long does it takes to make my pieces.

I thought, I would share with you the process from the 'clean' studio through to the finished pieces and how they evolve. Nothing is planned when I start, all these pieces could have turn out completely differently depending on my mood.

The time period is from the 14th October until 10th December 2013.

I try to start a new series of work with a tidy studio

The clay is laid out in slabs and cut into a variety of shapes very freely.

The pieces are left and finished until totally dry then stacked into the kiln.

The pieces are taken out of the kiln, I then make decisions on what pieces will go together.

Holes are drilled and pieces put together

Mounts are selected that will suspend the pieces

The pieces are covered with several coats of Gesso and the painting begins.

 

Several coats of paint to get the density of colour needed

Each piece is looked at and decisions made.

After a final protecting coat the pieces are ready to be photographed.

Pieces all lined up and ready for photography

Apogee H54W60D10 cms

Cyclic (Wall Piece) H73W32D20 cms

Eternal H69W30D30 cms

Lunar H48W36D8 cms

Pi H39W59D11 cms

Nadir H44W32D10 cms

Phase (1) H29W40D8 cms

Phase (2) H33W40D8 cms

Across (3) (Wall Piece) H50W14D12 cms

Quotidian H42W64D10 cms

Across (1) Wall Piece H45W17D11 cms

Across (4+5)(Wall Piece) H45W40 cms each