Ceramics Workshop.

29/09/15

In the ceramics workshop, we used clay to create a sculpture based on the 'Hands On' project. After our tutor went through the rules of the workshop and how she expected us to behave in it, we began to sketch ideas of what we would like to create using the clay. I struggled to think of an idea of what to sculpt, so I used Pinterest to help inspire me. This lead us up to break.
After break Deborah, our tutor, instructed us how to prepare the clay so it was good to use for sculpting with. This included kneading the clay so there were no air bubbles. If there were air bubbles in the clay, once in the kiln, they would expand and cause the sculpture to 'explode'.
Once the clay was prepared we rolled it out onto calico using a rolling pin and two sticks to ensure that the clay was evenly spread. We cut around our hands and saved them to use later for a group piece. Using the techniques I had used earlier, I then rolled out more clay to use for my sculpture. I then placed a piece inside an oval mold to help form the base of my design and then another piece around a tube to help form the tree structure. I carved around my hand onto another piece of clay for the hand design. Over dinner I waited for it to set, making it easier to sculpt with.
After dinner, I began to stick all the pieces together. I started by placing all the pieces were i wanted them to go, cutting pieces of the tree base away so it sat in the right position. I then used 'slit' and scoring to stick the tree base onto the base and then the hand onto the other two. I then used a sculpting tool to help smooth out the edges to it became one. Using more clay and slit, i added branches onto the tree and then smoothed it all over using water and a paint brush.

Within the last 30 minutes of the workshop we worked as a group to create a class piece by using the hands we had cut early in the day. We used a mold so the hands would form a bowl shape. We each took it in turn to place out hands into the bowl and secure them using slit and scoring.

I really enjoyed this workshop as i found it fun and challenging.