Friday, April 25, 2014

The Double


 
Notes
 
Doppelganger - A ghostly counterpart of a living person; a double or second self. In Freudian terms it represents hidden or repressed aspects of the protagonist's personality. The arrival of the double represents the return of the repressed. The protagonist must acknowledge what the double represents and at the same time struggle against it.



Thursday, April 24, 2014

Wood

Its all leading up to the degree show now. As you can see I am using wood. I had two large pieces cut and managed to get two strong lads from college and my tutor and his trailer to help get them from point A to point B. They are to represent two figures and also to serve as plinths for my ceramic pieces. They were originally supposed to have screens in them but that idea has falling to the side.
They are currently sitting in the studio awaiting further instructions. One of them is still alive and seems to be sprouting from all sides. Should be a nice touch to the show. I will have to place it in the garden when all this is over!
 


 


 



Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Degree Show Plan

 
The plan for the degree show. Trust me, it makes sense! It was worked out on my desk, so I don't think it will be removed in one piece successfully. I think we will go with plan C?....... 
 

Glazeing

Last week my tutor helped me glaze the cones. We used a leadless Transparent glaze. The end result is rather creamy instead of white as the natural colouring from the glaze comes through. I think this will work well with what I want my end result to be. I really enjoyed this process. I am not sure why but on returning to them this week they have gone and crackled. At this stage of the game it is to late to redo anything but after talking with a few people who know about these things it may work out for the better, and the crackling wont effect what I want to do. Hopefully it will only improve it.
 
 
The unglazed cones ready to go

 

 
Pouring and mixing the glaze



The cones were dipped into the glaze then the bottoms were wiped to give a nice even finish and to prevent the glaze from sticking to the kiln.

 
 
I just liked the image of the rings left from the glaze.

 
The kiln being packed

 
The final result, you can see the crackling on the surface.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Ceramic Update

So I am very behind on my blog, and that is not from lack of anything to put up! I have just been a bit allergic as I fell way behind.
I had to recast my mould for my ceramic cones, which I think has worked out for the best. The base is slightly bigger and they are more pointed.
For the new cone we had to make a basic mould of plaster, which was then carved down as close to the original cone shape as possible. We then made another plaster mould using the plaster cone to create the cast of the cone. I needed the negative shape of the cone to pour my slip cast to make a hollow ceramic cone. It is a lot easier than it sounds...
Here are some photos of the process helped by some lovely and patient ceramic tutors and technicians!

 
Getting ready to mix and pour the first plaster mould.




 
The first mould which the new cone would be made from. The old cone is sitting beside it.
The old cone was made from a paper cone.
 


 
The carving process

 
The new cone

 
 Greasing up the new cone with soap so the plaster mould wont stick


 
Pouring the new mould



 
The cone one the left is removed leaving our final mould on the right.


 
Pouring the first cast.
We do this by using slip, which is poured into the cast, left for a small amount of time, then poured out again and left to dry.
I have made ten altogether.

Monday, April 7, 2014

Together


I am trying out a new variation of my blackout poetry and found text using vintage photographs. Hopefully this will be a successful development.