New form

I have been playing with new forms and I ended up developing this shape which features a tiny opening slightly facing horizontal instead of vertical. I really like this feature as it isn’t conventional or necessarily functional. Beyond this project I really want to continue playing with this form.

To document this piece I placed it on top of a pink and orange sketch in order to tie in the relationship between the form and observation. My intention was to visually show the back and forth process I have been using, the conversation between 2D and 3D.

 

Process: Coil Building Further Work and Realisations

Having made and bisque fired the mortar and started sketching its surface texture I now feel I need to respond to the sketch by making. I have decided to make some useful functional items for ink making in response to my sketches, I have experimented with form on these two pieces but applied a similar texture to the mortar. The purpose of these objects in this project is to respond and develop a texture from a physical space to a 2D space and back again etc. I feel this conversation elevates the stone like quality and the material itself into a different space, demonstrating the capabilities of the clay as well as the tool used, a cutlery knife. By elevating and bringing attention to the texture I feel I have changed the whole purpose to the project. I have decided to not make a final pestle to accompany the mortar as it would detract from the experience of the mortar. Making the mortar was the aim for the first part of this project, fulfilling the bowl requirement of the project, however, the bowl outcome has really changed my orientation for this half of the project. The importance of the bowl, the mortar, being a singular outcome and my pursuit to present a sketch or series of sketches as the second outcome is fundamental as my response to the brief.

The mortar is a functional item which is missing its sibling component. The lack of a pestle is my intention of highlighting the physical attributes of the mortar. Although I initially wanted to make a psetle to accompany the mortar therefore making a fully functional set to use in ink making, I realised with further exploration of the mortar and also after making test pestles that my response to the brief had changed. I knew I needed to reflect further when I was doubting making a pestle. Re-visiting the brief I realised that my Gesamtkunstwerk, my ideal project and outcome would be to make, sketch and fulfill an idea but in actuality my ideal would be the freedom to be reflective in a project and to realise and actualise new intentions. I found beauty in the surface texture and I realised that I wanted to respond to that, I felt that this was now the avenue to follow. My new words for this project are; reflect, realise, respond and actualise.

Although I have not been conventional during this project with sudden understandings of my actual intentions I feel I have developed the project in live time and in a way, listened to the things that I made. I do not feel that I have abandoned aspects of my ideas but realised and made connections with possibly what my consciousness was telling me. I intend to complete the pestle and mortar set but not as part of this project. The mortar’s function will be used, as to its original purpose, next term.

Process: Plaster outcome

Having thrown the clay into the plaster mould and reinforced the form with coils the clay has dried and is ready to release from the mould.

Here is a short clip of the mortar.

 

After releasing the clay from the mould I noticed the texture left from the clay. Although I do not like the new texture on the mortar I did like the pattern left from this process. This has not been a failure in my eyes as I have learnt more about the way that clay works and the beauty left behind by it.

 

Process:Plaster Mould Throwing

 

Finally, the plaster mould is dry and ready to use. I have planned on using this plaster mould in a process I’m dubbing Plaster Mould Throwing. This technique requires me to literally throw bits of clay into the mould so that it creates a rock/pebble effect. I have documented the process in the video above. As you can see the process is rather unpredictable and a bit messy. Also, trying to set up my phone to video this process propped up on some spray can lids was not a great idea.

As the video shows, I first had to smooth a layer of clay over the grinding surface of the mortar, this will allow a friction free surface allowing the grinding process to obe efficient and void contamination. During this process it’s vital to move quickly as he plaster will draw out moisture from the clay immediately, meaning that there is a risk of the clay drying before you have finished making the form.

The next step in the process is to throw small ball like shapes into the mould, aiming at the external ‘walls’ of the mortar. Gradually aiming the balls further up the mould, creating an even texture across the form. In order to secure and stabilise the mortar the process calls for reinforcing the walls with coils of clay, these must be laid on top of the balls and integrated into the small amounts of clay. This will ensure that all the clay has bonded and will be stable and not crumble when dry. Filling the rest of the mould with coils makes the form solid, however, if the form is too thick there is a risk of cracking or even exploding in the kiln. To try cut back the density of the clay I have made an indentation in the form, hopefully this will help lower the risks of cracking. This is depicted below.

 

The form is ready so it’s time to set the mould aside and allow it a significant drying time due to the volume of clay inside and the size of the mould. I will now place the mould in the drying cupboard which is heated to aid drying times.