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“Flight Dreams,” 15½ in. (39 cm) in height, slab-built white
stoneware, with underglaze washes, nichrome wire and epoxy, fired to Cone 4.
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November 28, 2007
Sturdy Support Systems
by Sandra Luehrsen | Read Comments (4)
Jane Kelsey-Mapel’s sculpture needs support
during the forming, drying and firing processes. Exterior supports include
metal pipes, clay posts and ceramic fiber blanket. Interior supports include
pipes, newspaper and polyester fiberfill.
SUPPORT DURING FORMING
A rust-resistant pipe screwed into a
floor flange and secured to a wooden wareboard provides support to a sculpture
during the forming process. For an interior armature, Kelsey-Mapel wraps the
sides and top of the pipe loosely with crushed newspaper at least 1 inch in
thickness (to allow for shrinkage and prevent the pipe from marring the
surface). For exterior support, she loosely wraps the pipe with crushed
newspaper, soft cloth or polyester fiberfill.
MAINTAINING VOLUME
Newspaper and fiberfill provide support and help
maintain volume while forming. Both materials compress as the clay shrinks
uniformly around them. Newspaper works best with terra cotta or stoneware, and
fiberfill works better with porcelain or fine white stoneware. Kelsey-Mapel
drapes wet slabs of clay around the filling, leaving or cutting a hole
somewhere in the form so the filling can be removed after the clay is leather
hard.
EXTERIOR SUPPORT
A clay post, made with the same clay body as the
sculpture, also can provide exterior support. She squeezes or rolls an
elongated pillar in the height and diameter required to prop up the form and
uses a piece of thin plastic between the post and sculpture to prevent
sticking. Then she perforates the clay post with pinholes about 1 inch apart to
ensure that the post will dry thoroughly and shrink the same percentage as the
sculpture.
In the case of a cantilevered limb that doesn’t
have much weight, a 1-1/2-inch-thick blanket of ceramic fiber can provide
adequate support during the bisque and glaze firings. Kelsey-Mapel cuts and
stacks pieces under the appendage needing support. As the clay shrinks during
the firing, the soft blanket compresses yet gives firm support. Ceramic fiber
can be especially useful during the glaze firing because it doesn’t stick to or
mar underglazed or slipped surfaces. Caution: Always wear gloves, a
long-sleeved shirt, eyewear and a respirator when working with ceramic fiber.FOR MORE INFORMATIONTo see more of Jane’s work, visit Victoria Boyce Galleries.
Read more about these related topics:
Glazing Techniques & Glaze Recipes Handbuilding Ceramic Sculpture Ceramic Artists
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