I have been looking again at carved pieces, placed one on top of each other as they will be as totems or a water feature and was unhappy about the appearance where they abut; in particular the carved areas where they meet and leave visual gaps. Should I insert ceramic ( or even rubber ) washers between the pieces? If so should these be of a standard size when the main components are not, and can be placed in any order? Should the carved pieces alternate with plain spheres, introducing a design constraint? In addition these irregular ridges are unstable especially during firing when they are free standing in the kiln, without the stabilising central post that will be present when assembled. Further more they worsen the glazing challenge. A few weeks ago, Annie Peaker also made some helpful observations about globes and pointed out that true spheres resting on a surface look wrong; they look better slightly flattened at the base -and are more stable too. Light bulb moment ...... I am making each of these carved altered spheres with a standard sized hole through which a pole will go. I am using a plastic sellotape roll innard and the see through top of a pressurised can to impress onto the clay to give me the limits of this standard hole. The revised plan is to make each with a standard diameter flat area top and bottom. This area will be unglazed, reducing the firing and propping problems and will be hidden by the next piece with its standard size flat ring going on top. You will notice that the top one of this stack is flat - but not level. I have found it really challenging to get the two holes lined up exactly opposite, even when I measure from the join line. I will need to get a spirit level. I no longer use a damp sponge to smooth off and even out the surface and have abandoned steel wool. I now use those green scrubbing /scouring pads on the dry clay (whist wearing a mask and under the extractor fans). They leave a scoured rather than the gritty surface left by the sponge and the residue is easier to remove.. I am still concerned about stability. though the new 'flat ended ' design is an improvement. At Postfest in the Park Wendy Lawrence's totem had a significant lean. I plan to stick the central pole of mine well into the ground, but I can't use this method for a water feature as there would be problems of leakage if the central pole went through the bottom of the reservoir.
The other concern relates to weight. If a totem or water feature reaches six foot in height there will be a considerable force on the lowest piece. Again not a major problem for a totem, but a water feature will have the water reservoir and pump below a supported canopy. More thinking.
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AuthorI am indulging my passion for ceramics by undertaking studies for an MA at UCLAN Archives
August 2021
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