One of my resolutions for the new year is to make some of the things that people are looking for. With that in mind, this past week I thought I was making a yarn bowl all the way from model to the first slip cast copies.
To make the model, I filled a cardboard tube with plaster and clay, covered the surface with contact paper, modelled a foot in wax and a spare in plaster. The model became a one piece master for the sides of the mould.
I finished three copies of the plaster mould over a two day period. Changed out the smooth contact paper for some with a grid texture for the second and third copies. Thought this would add another dimension of detail for the Black Hole glazes. The grid should only show in the deepest craters. I also reworked the inside of the foot. I didn’t like how the interior footprint was going to look after slip casting once I saw the first copy of the mould.
The moulds were dried quickly between duelling fans, dehumidifier running in the background.
First casts came out late Sunday. I liked the form less once I had cut out some of the yarn spirals. There was a lot more wall movement than I bargained for. I’ve decided it’s better as a plant pot so I cut drainage holes in the foot. Now I need a matching under plate.
Casting more copies of these and the vases into tomorrow. Then getting started on the under plates. Thinking about models for coffee mugs and a covered urn but who knows.
