How to..

click here to see Dolomite Glazed Sculptures
click here to see Opaque Glazed Sculptures click here to see Various Other Glazed Sculptures
click here to see Enhanced Sculptures
click here to see Individual Sculptures

To Create a new Sculpture

Creating a new figurative sculpture takes about 10 days from model's visit to completion.

If a new sculpture is commissioned an appointment is made,
the model arrives, and a pose is discussed and when all are
happy with the design the work begins.

First a thing layer of baby oil is applied to the model to help
separate the cast from the skin once it is hardened.

Now, short lengths of plaster-impregnated bandage is applied to the
area being cast. The bandage is built up to about 4 or 5 layers
to give it enough strength to support itself.

When it is hardened (about 15minutes later) it is removed from the model
and set aside to dry pout completely, this takes about 2 days.

Plaster of Paris is now spread over the outside of the bandage to form a
hard shell, approximately 2 - 3cm thick, this can take a couple of hours
to allow the plaster to dry a little before building up the thickness,
two days are required for this plaster to dry out enough for the next stage.

Now clay can be pressed into the mould, I prefer to use small, grape sized
pieces which allows me to form the shape I desire.

Again, this will need 4 or 5 days to dry before it can be removed from the mould.

Once the clay is out it can be smoothed and any 'unsightly' blemishes
can be removed. I leave a number of marks in the clay to give the work
an organic feel, making it too perfect means it could look plastic
or mass produced.

The clay is now placed in a kiln and fired to 1050c, known as bisque firing,
and then taken out for glazing. I have a variety of glazes that will give
different finishes and these you can see on my other webpages

Once the glaze is applied the sculpture goes back in a kiln to be fired
to 1260c which means it can be displayed indoors or out as it is frost proof.