It's all about the Making...

After treating myself to the wonderful book Making and Drawing I feel inspired to update on some of my recent making.

Making for me in very much a part of the drawing process, in fact, it could be seen as an exploration of line and mark itself. 

Surface, texture, form and conversations.

Let's have a look at what's been going on...

Exploring the relationship between size, weight, line and clay body 

these two objects have an interesting dialogue:

I have taken a cast of the inside and reverse of the same mould here 

and the surface quality is again interesting..

The way it picks up the stitch is magical:

And the depth of the line draws you in further still:

I then stopped to think about what has been happening during the whole process of the making....

> During slip-casting you are always left with waste slip. 

> Reusing the flexible moulds pushes them to their limits. 

They begin to disintegrate and become unusable, but surely this is not the end of their use?

I started to consider how I could utilise all of this....

and through a process of composing with the waste cloth:

...using the excess slip to take a cast or in this case 'print':

I have been presented with some interesting results:

Taking this further into the positioning of stitch, line and altered surface - 

 you are offered a whole new line of enquiry still!

I'm quite excited by this process and see lots of potential in its capabilities longer term.... 

I wonder how this might work in to my current degree show set up however, 

could this become part of / a canopy in itself?

and what about these forms:

They are starting to take shape a bit more too...

It's not that long away now, when this work will be up on show

I can't wait to see it!!!

But for now, it's on with the making...

Stiching with nails and the results of a High Firing

So, you remember that nice piece of porcelain with the nails?

Well after its bisque fire it went back in the kiln for a high fire (1260'c)

and looooooook! 

that is some nice bubbling!

I'm experimenting with some more.....

check back for results next week!

Assessment time...

...Again!? 

It's been a busy time during this project, I've made a visits to Interiors UK and the Surface & Design Show. Both were interesting events, if only for the new designers and lecture tents!

So, 1, 10, 1000, what's been happening? Well, mould-making has been a key part to this project, and an exploration of form....

I began by looking to secondhand figurines and through a concept of wrapping, started to bind them with layers of videotape. I chose this material, as I did the figurines, for their throwaway and secondhand nature. With a mind on sustainable practice and the choice of material for production, I was considering all that was readily available to me.

Continuing with the idea of throwaway, I used plastic bags to inform the shapes and masters of my moulds. It was with these that I developed plaster casts and samples, and made a number of good and bad mistakes!

The casting of plaster in the bags gave a whole new dimension to the shapes both inside and out. This has given me some ideas for my next project, more on that later though... 

So, after a process of casting and editing, I found my masters and went to work on a 4-part plaster mould for slip casting. My first attempt was disasterous, one big block of plaster with a plastic bag stuck inside of it - eeek!? Second attempt, with some technical help was much more successful and I was on my way to creating my 'batch'.

mould and master

4 part split mould, master and sponge(!)

slipcasts of varying thickness

slipcasts with black slip, inside and out for contrast

I am pleased with the outcome of my slip-casts in terms of form; however feel that with more time I would have liked to have developed a range of glazes. These would enhance their overall appearance and potentially open up a new dialogue in which to explore. 

In addition to the slipcast moulds I have made some silicone with jacket moulds that I intend to use for lost wax casting in glass. 

I have found this project a 'frustrating-at-times-but-overall-enjoyable' one. I feel that my mould-making skills have improved, or my understanding of them has at least, and I look forward to seeing the influence that it will have on my future work. 

In terms of the next project, I see this one as an active spring board for it. We begin a 12 week self-explorative project as of Monday and I note the process of casting, forming, changing, altering and dismantling as key informants of my current thinking. I am mindful of the idea of a casting photocopier whereby each time a form is cast, then remodelled to cast again in can change and alter its shape until it becomes 10 times removed from its initial form. This process excites me and has real scope for material development and exploration. I hope to keep a bit more on top of my updates next project a perhaps commit to a few less things. 

Space set up for assessment showcasing (clockwise from top left);
plaster models, silicone with jacket moulds, wax casts,
4 part plaster mould, slip casts, dipped slip experiment with upholstery foam,
vacuum formed open mould from 1st failed silicone mould

Mouldmaking, Slipcasting, Visualising and, Assessment!

It's nearing the end of term, I am due to present my work for assessment on Monday and as it's been a while since I've updated, here are some pictures of what I've been up to:

By simplifying my movement drawings to the essence of the act,
I formed these into copper wire.

Into the wire I used expanding foam
which created some interesting organic like shapes.

From these I made some plaster moulds which I then used for slip-casting in porcelain

The foam objects were quite complex in shape
and suffered from a  lot of undercuts in the casting process

this resulted in a lot of tears and breaks in the casts

but as a collection they worked well together

Once fired I experimented with how they might look with lighting inside them.

Visualization was an essential part of this project as the work was intended for a large-scale installation. Here are images of the casts in 'situ':

a stumble-upon installation in an only rum distillery

and a suggestion as large scale stage set for a dance/physical theatre performance.

So, with Year Two, Term One coming to a close, here's my space all set up for assessment - wish me luck!