Developing Ideas
Box of Secrets-
This is our new project for semester two- based around the idea of creating a pair of boxes that convey a sense of preciousness using the slab building technique. They could be based on a memory, thought, emotion or a physical artefact that holds meaning.
I began generating ideas based on my experience in New Zealand. My partner proposed to me in Queenstown, NZ, right by the silhouette view of the mountains as the sun was setting. This became my initial point of generating some ideas. I followed the flow of the mountains and tried to incorporate that into my designs.
Through a repeat process of sketching then making- I discovered a key element to my ideas was texture. After a few discussions around my ideas, I began incorporating textural materials into my clay and onto the surface of some test tiles.
Granular Feldspar
Sawdust
Grog
Molocrite
I was instantly drawn to the added texture this was providing and I wanted to explore how to create texture without influencing the outcome too much. Therefore, I created some very thick slabs with each element incorporated into the slabs and began ripping, tearing and slicing the slabs at the leather-hard stage. This created a variety of incredible textures which resembled the energy of the rocky mountains of New Zealand.
I created a number of test tiles with the added substances and applied texture. I wanted to explore how slip and the textural elements would pair together on the surface and also see how the elements would fair in different firing conditions (Oxidisation and Reduction)
I also created a number of my own glazes as I knew I wanted the feet of the box to be a dark, metal-like glaze.
This approach of testing, making, sketching and then repeating transformed my original ideas into something more sculpturally explorative and opened up new potentials to clay I’d never considered.
Second Box
This was the idea for my second box- keeping the mountain-inspired lid and applying ‘rock’- like feet.
Continue to my next blog post to see images of my texture test tiles and glaze development…
Initial Sketches
I wanted more obvious connotations to my experience in New Zealand- the silhouette of the mountains was present in the base and the lid.
A quick maquette of what my sketched box could look like- soon realised I needed to change how I applied the texture.
A carved out cube of clay transformed into a box- however this did not incorporate the slab building technique but it did allow me to explore less manufactured texture.