Material Research: Ceramics

 For this post I will be looking into ceramics further, including different techniques and what is currently possible for my own ceramics project. 

I am currently working with stoneware, because it is readily available at the workshop with no added cost and provides a durable end result. I will be firing my cups in a kiln at around 1200 degrees Celsius, which is a normal temperature for stoneware. The stoneware is safe to drink out of, however, to make sure that it is waterproof I will be using a glaze on the inside of all of my cups. Not all of the cups will be glazed on the outside to preserve the desired textures, for example the bird's nest cup with its furry texture. After the glazing process, the cups will have to be fired again.

Other common clay types are earthenware, which is fired at a lower temperature and much more porous than stoneware, and porcelain, which is fired at a high temperature and generally used for more delicate works due to its stiffness.

I have already explained the pinching and slab techniques in my ceramics experimentation post. Other techniques are coiling, using a mould, carving and sculpting.

The coiling technique is usually, but not exclusively, used for larger pieces. It requires rolling clay into sausage shapes and stacking them, from that you can mold the clay into any shape. 

Coiling

Using a mould is simply forming the clay around or into an existing mould shape, this could be anything from a proper mould to a household item such as a bottle. It is a quick and easy method that allows you to mold the clay into any shape you can possibly find.

The carving technique is similar to that of stone carving, you carve the desired shape out of a block of clay. You can use modelling tools, a knife, a needle and cheese wire to create shapes and textures. This technique creates more waste, since you do not use the exact amount of clay that is necessary for your work.

Finally, sculpting is a technique that involves using your hands to create shapes from an existing base of clay. It can be used on a large and small scale and connects the artist to their work. I have been using this technique in my own project to create shapes that I would not be able to make with any tool.