Garden Mosaic

A mosaic made from a broken mirror, plates and tiles on the wall in my garden, covering a blind window.

The wall is gradually getting populated by other sculptures.
Meanwhile a blackbird has made a nest among the clematis.

The Head-Maker

Alex can't stop making massive, wild, energy-filled, disturbing heads in large numbers; his pantry is full of them.

He also holds the British All-comers record for the most clay used by one individual in a single day ...

And here is a micro-documentary I made of the artist himself, relaxing at home ...

Mother Love

Clay statue finished with iron paste, bronze powder and verdigree as with the mask below

Finished Clay Mask

Finished with iron paste, bronze powder & verdigree

Mushroom Bowl

It does have a rather ulcerous look about it ... which I quite like!

Made by wrapping clay over newspaper over an upturned bowl

Marysia's Face Cast

Fired Face Mask

Quite fragile being only two clay daubs thick;
now thinking about the finish - iron paste perhaps.

A Tile

Very easy to make and glaze, distorts a little on firing.

Trial Ideas Fired

A Face Appears

Something I did this afternoon. Let's see if it survives the drying process!

Shimming Video

Paul explains how to shim a clay figure as preparation for making a plaster mould. Firstly by cutting home made shims from soft drink cans. then carefully sliding the shims into place to enable a multi-piece mould to be made.

Bloody Mary?

What are we, am I, I mean? I don't know ...

Section of Christine

Finally fired, the section of the life model from Nov 08; glaze is skin

Brain

giant brain section complete with blood clots

Green Man

Or what's left of him!

Using Fowler

Progress on a clay head built around the paper laminate of a Fowler Phrenology head
The paper head was stuffed with newspaper and an inverted plastic cup, then wrapped with cling film. I then rolled clay sheets onto a basic clay frame.

Half Head

The half head from last term's Inspired by Life course finally got its glazed firing this week and it's now enjoying the scenery on the wall in the garden. This piece was quickly done but that gives it energy and at first people don't see the face, they notice later that he is sticking his tongue out at them!

Angry Man 2

Another "Angry Man", this time with much more of his internal head space filled with paper which of course is reduced to ash on firing. Below is the unfired head with paper stuffing.
So there's more space for the candle to light it from the inside, which was the intention.

Direct Plaster 3

The plaster is actually quite difficult to work as its texture changes quickly as it dries. I have built up this head by applying wet plaster with a spatula or my fingers but have not yet tried filing or carving the dry plaster. See the video below of Paul showing how to carve the wet plaster as if it were clay.

Proud Father

That was last night and now this morning, he's really grown up.