Into the kiln

The kiln is on again!

I have been working on a few new ideas and here are some of my pieces being fired in my Evenheat kiln. It is running at 800 Centigrade and I love that I can just leave this kiln and it will switch itself off at the end of its firing schedule. To the back right hand side you can see the two little moth pieces that I began a few days ago. There are also a couple of different tops for pairs of cuff links.

The patterns for these were made using ‘Scratchofoam’ ™ a technique suggested by Wanaree Tanner in her blog a few months ago. This is a kind of thin styrofoam sheet, I think mainly used for teaching children print making, but it is easy to create patterns and textures in it using a small ball tool and, because I enjoy creating my own unique textures it provides a quick and easy way of making them. I still like to make photopolymer plates for designs I think I will use repeatedly as they are much more durable.

These are some of patterns I made for cuff links using the scratchfoam.

I am working on a larger pendant inspired by a segment of plant growing just in front of my studio.

Here is the scratchfoam texture I made – it does require ‘reverse thinking’ so that printing course I took at the beginning of year is beginning to pay off. I used this to create the basic framework for the stems and outline structure. Having rolled out a slab of clay I then laid it over a former and began to cut into it, to create the gaps between the stems. After I had let it dry thoroughly I then added lots of small balls of clay to create the flower or seed heads. I added a bail and a tiny loop and di lots of pre-finshing and refining. You can see the reverse side of this piece to the back left hand side of the picture of things in the kiln.

I also remembered to photograph my sanding block. I talked about this in a previous post and thought it would be helpful to show my attempts to contain my sanding a filing dust, at the same time keeping it clean so that I can safely reconstitute it later.

Anyway, I hope you are all enjoying seeing something of my working process. I am just going back to the studio to empty the kiln as it should have reached the end of its programme now.

There are plenty of places available on classes coming up here in North Yorkshire so why not begin your own metal clay adventure? Email me if you would like to book. I look forward to seeing you….