Andy Bensen Section 003 Ceramics

 

Organic Form Final Blog Post Organic Form Building from Coil and Surface Deco Project 1 Instructions:   Beginners Organic Form (Handbuilt with Sprigs) Objective: Build a sculptural coil built earthenware piece originating from an organic object and transformed though the use of a formal issue provided (see below) in both form and surface. The piece should not exceed 12” inches in height or be more than ½ inch in thickness. Final form will be coil built from red earthenware clay, brushed with white slip, carved with relating pattern, low temperature bisque fired followed by clear coat spray finish. ALL research, ideations of form and surface, pattern research and carving and final form MUST BE BLOGGED   Materials needed : (all found on first day tool list) Red Earthenware Clay from studio, wedging board, sponge, spray bottle, metal rib, serrated metal rib, rolling pin for base shape, Kemper carving ribbon tools, bucket for water, white 04 slip (get a lidded cup size container) ...

 

 Pattern Ideation Trying to stick to plant-based patterns, largely looking at plants that have shape to them with relatively fleshy and dry surfaces, I've gotten a feel for different sort of rhythmic shapes that could reflect this feel when tessellated across the surface of my design.  While it's tempting to go with a carving technique for the slip and to draw direct inspiration from the needles themselves, I'd like to go with the paper approach where you apply slip over a sheet of paper which is then removed.  The tricky part with trying to come up with a good pattern is getting something that looks engaging and unique, while also landing with something that is achievable.  You may notice that the blueprint has been simplified from last week, due to the reality of how difficult the clay is to work with when met with my initial expectations.  I'm leaning towards shapes that mix curves and hard points, like the 4th in each row here.  They reflect a very arid...

 Base build - Continued Raising up the build slowly but surely, although maintaining these undulating shapes has been difficult.  While I can maintain the shapes to a reasonable degree, the heights of my coils are starting to become uneven, or no longer level with the base.  I'm trying to decide if I should just work with it or carve off some parts that have risen a bit faster.   My two main concerns are the clay walls being too thick in terms of blowing up, but also too thin in terms of collapsing under the clays own weight.   I've opted for thick enough to build from, but then pulling the clay up until it thins a bit.  I'm also concerned about the clay drying so quickly as it's so incredibly dry when its this cold, so I spray often and leave multiple sponges in with the work when I wrap it up and set it aside.   I'm confidant that I can get a pleasing shape that suits the original concept from here, minus some of the extremities that m...