Process

All my forms come from different man-made objects I collected from my local beaches. I found my forms from collaging and tracing over images I took of these objects. From there I make models using a plaster lathe or plaster wheel. The lathe is similar to the one used for wood turning and the wheel is similar to the one used for throwing. Starting from a solid cylinder of plaster I carve out each shape.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 When I'm happy with my models I make plaster moulds. My moulds range from two-piece moulds to five-piece moulds depending on the object.

Slip casting is a method traditionally used for mass-production of pottery. Slip (liquid clay) is poured into a plaster mould, plaster absorbs water so as it reduces, layers of clay build up against the inside walls of the mould. I use stoneware slip in my work. To create the colours in my clay I add stains to my slip. I do three layers of slip, the outer colour, a middle layer with no stain (this is to build up the wall thickness without pushing up the cost as stains can be expensive) and an inside layer of either the same colour or a second colour.

  

 

 

 Once each piece is bisque fired it is glazed on the inside with a transparent glaze to make it functional while keeping the matte finish on the outside. Each piece is sanded on the outside before and after the glaze firing so it has a silky-smooth finish and is nice to touch.