My second method to upscale my work was using slabs. Not my favourite way usually as you need the slabs to be a bit stiff but I need to know if it will work for me in this case. Using paper towels, sponge and pillows for support I managed to get a closed form. The slabs were made on a slab roller and were the thickness of my little finger, a bit thin for carving texture. So I adapted and relied on layering textured slabs. Slabbing the blade side of the saw created a weathered texture and I continued to use a broken bit of wood to create texture.
This piece was bigger than the solid piece previously, both used material underneath to help me manipulate it in the former. This helped with the weight issue however it caused dust to become airborne whenever I adjusted the piece. Although not my favourite making method I do find the form pleasing and the piece grew on me throughtout the build.
Ive been trying to refine my texture making using the wire brush so that it becomes more organic. In this piece I also created more holes some more successful than others as they looked unnatural. I did spend some time looking at the piece from a number of angles so see which position was best as its difficult to see the piece when its in a former. I think its important to see the negative space aswell as the object itself.
I also wanted to see what the addition of slip created when the piece was already dry, so using porcelain slip I brushed thin and thick application on both pieces so far. I wanted to see how I could capture flaking paint on the form. They are both now in the bisque firing and I cant wait to see the results.
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