Wk 14.
This week I decided I wanted to get back into ceramics to not only build confidence with the versatility of the material - see below my first attempts at throwing…
followed by my notes so my next attempt won’t be quite as awful- …
but to expand my knowledge of all steps in the process, including glazing. The main piece I wanted to complete was Lolita but first I did some testers on the maquettes/studies I also produced last semester
Before Firing
After Firing
From these I’ve learnt a few things
I hate Tin glazes - it looks like really bad marscapone fronting and semen at the same time. Contem paints are by far the most reliable paints to ensure accuracy when removed from the kiln albeit the least exciting
Wax resist can be really handy for creating effects on the clay but once it’s been applied it can’t be removed before firing - unlike a latex resist (Meaden, 2022)
Metal Oxides can change quite dramatically from before and after the kiln but don’t work in as extreme a way as a glaze does, where the chemical compounds of the materials alter in the kiln, but can be really good for producing an organic yet vibrant effect in a work (The Pottery Wheel. 2022)
Lolita - glazing
When glazing Delores I didn’t want to go too experimental as I had already chosen to submit her as my entry for the Art and Philosophy Exhibition in a couple weeks time.
I kept the flesh pretty simple by using contem paints to achieve an accurate image with painterly finish which allowed me to capture the details of the skin, and striped dress frills. However the thing that excites me most about ceramics is it’s unpredictability and I would have been disappointed in myself if I had done anything different with this piece so I decided I would use an oxide colourant, specifically rutile, for details like the hair, eyebrows and freckles. I chose not to add a clear glaze overtop as I felt this would remove the relatability from the fleshiness of Delores.
Final piece
Overall I’m really pleased I was patient in glazing Delores and taking the time to develop my maquette. There’s very little I would change about it and for my first '“final” ceramic piece I’m really proud of her. Me and Sean Kingsley discussed the possibility of adding a clear glaze of the eyes to add to the innocence of the piece which is still a possibility for a future firing.
Next Steps?
I’m really keen to do more ceramics especially busts as I felt Delores was really successful but I also want to have a good theoretical basis behind my works and as it can take up to a whole week to complete just one piece I felt I should divide my time to focus on a complete body of work rather than just my technical development, something I can hopefully do with the Dundee Ceramics Workshop over Summer.
Sean is also asking me to consider different sculpting methods such as hollow sculpting and using different kinds of clay such as white earthenware and porcelain but also to consider being more experimental with firing techniques and even trying raku in the near future. I’ll continue researching various artists who work in the realm of ceramics in the meantime.
Reference List
Lolita (1997) Directed by A. Lyne [Feature Film]
Meaden, L. (2022) Latex Resist Ceramics: How to Make Great Patterns When Glazing. Available at: https://ceramicartsnetwork.org/daily/article/use-latex-resist-create-glaze-patterns (Accessed: April 23 2023)
The Pottery Wheel. (2022) The Difference Between Oxides and Stains in Pottery. Available at: https://thepotterywheel.com/difference-between-oxides-and-stains-in-pottery/ (Accessed: April 23 2023).