Vulcan Black and Earthstone

While producing this work for Maker in Focus at the Mission Gallery in Swansea, I’ve used, it turns out, several different clay bodies – two different blacks, terracotta, white earthenware, at least one earthstone, and three different paperclays. I think the most enjoyable for the actual making have been the two clays in these pieces – the white form – ‘House of Leaves’ (at least it’s a working title but really how could I resist when the book is sitting in my studio!) is made with Earthstone and the dark form ‘Sea Change II’ is Vulcan Black. Both are beautiful to work with and not so heavily grogged that they rip my hands and nails to shreds as others have. Both these pieces though have other clays and materials incorporated in them.

The images below show the work in progress.

House of Leaves in progress

House of Leaves detail

But will it get through the firing?

These photographs show that, despite the headlong rush to cover as much land as possible with new-build, there are still some truly liminal, and surreal, sights/sites to be found in Pontarddulais.

bath edge

In the meantime some works at different stages – biscuit fired and raw.

work in progress

work in progress

work in progress - raw

But will it get through the firing?

Tests and Trials

Waiting with somewhat bated breath for the outcome of today’s firing – lots of test pieces and one much larger form than I’ve made in a while. Also trying out a new, to me, clay body – Vulcan Black – on another largish piece. Fingers crossed!

test firing
Here’s one I fired earlier.