I had a tutorial a few weeks ago about expanding the type of work I produce. As well as producing outdoor sculptural work I intend on producing smaller pieces for inside the home. I want to utilise my techniques and palette that I use on my sculptures and apply them to lidded vessels. The forms will be similar in shape to my sculptural pieces plus I will be making some straight sided vessels.
It was suggested that I also make straight sided sculptures showing the smooth surface at the bottom increasing the texture towards the top of the column. I have made a prototype to explore how the texture will look before proceeding to other pieces. A group of three will be made at the same time to see how they sit together.
I started out making the smaller pieces from slabs of clay, however it soon became apparent that a firm structure which was not too dry was needed to apply my surface treatments. Switching to solid building methods was therefore preferable. Instead of hollowing out, I removed the middle section of the structure with a metal tube to allow airflow inside the piece for even drying. The texturing of my bigger pieces was easy to achieve it seemed, compared with this smaller prototype as I was able to make big sweeping movements. I was dealing with a broad top to the work which needed to look decayed even though it was a solid form, so was more challenging. The previous bigger sculptures had all narrowed to a point at the top so I was dealing with a totally different profile.
As these pieces don't need to be made out of paper-clay, I am using a different clay body by David Wright. This has effected the outcome of my Cumbrian slate glaze ie I seem to have lost the blue colours, depth and coverage, something I need to work on with my future pieces. The end result of the prototype piece I am happy with, although I found it very awkward at first working on a smaller scale. Now to apply all that learning to a series of smaller pieces.
Initial prototype.
Lidded Vessel with complimentary pieces.
Having made a few vessels and lidded vessels, I believe these may be less successful than the more sculptural work. For me they are not as exciting or unique neither are they exciting to make. Interestingly I am not getting the same amount of joy from making the smaller pieces as I did from the bigger pieces, something I was not expecting. It feels a bit tedious but that could be due to fatigue as we approach the end of our extended degree due to COVID lockdown. I have to admit that I can not wait until I leave and start working on my own back in my studio. The drawback to this is that I will no longer benefit from working with my fellow students where we can bounce ideas off each other.
Examples of finished work.
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