Sculpture

The Sculpting Process

When working with a model I start by making sketches, either with pencil and paper, or with clay (maquette). Having established a feel for the model, I will then begin work on the final piece. I start by building layers of clay. I begin with the overall shape of the sculpture and move towards creating detail.

Once the sculpture is finished it is hollowed out and left to dry. When the clay is dry it can be fired for the first time.

When firing a new sculpture anything can happen, (cracking, or even an explosion) but if all goes well I will have a biscuit-fired piece. I then glaze and fire again - ’stone-firing’ (higher temperature).

If the sculpture needs to be weather proofed, I stone-fire it. Craft-crank clay lends itself to this process.