About This Project
AT THE STUDIO
Clay is mainly the medium which I use to create my sculptures.
It can be fired into ceramics, created in cold cast bronze, or created using the lost wax method at the Foundry, in bronze metal.
If I am creating my works in ceramics, I let them dry for weeks at a time to make sure all the moisture is out of thew sculpture to aid for successful firings.
It is also crucial to eliminate any air bubbles which may get trapped when firing, as this can make pieces explode or split in the kiln in rising temperatures. That is why it is very import in the building process to create sculptures well, limiting hazards.
It is important to have kiln temperatures rise slowly to dissipated any further water particles remaining in the sculpture. This process helps to prevent any cracking or exploding when firing pieces.
When temperatures reach around 650 degrees the silica (glass particles) and other clay materials start to melt together and form a new structure which we call ceramics.
Once completely dry, the sculptures are delicately placed in the kiln. A firing can last for days and can take days to cool before opening the kiln to see the results.
There is always an uncertainty through the creative processes of firing clay and the world of ceramics
Fired results can be triumphant or disastrous. That is why it is seen as an artful science which can take years to master.
I find Ceramics doesn’t really get the credit it deserves because of the hidden depths it is faced with.
The medium truley transforms from one material to another. From clay, (a make up of watery mud, which are natural materials such as silica, thousands of year old glass), to ceramics , which is a fired, melted medium and much more durable than what it initially stated out to be.
This is alchemy, and a science which has helped us evolve over the centuries. From basic cooking pots over the ages to technologically advance parts, which take us to the moon!
Home Inspirations
During the last decade, I find myself working at my home studio, in the countryside, at the foot of the Angus Glens, in the Cairngorms, Scotland.
It is there, where I draw much of my inspiration from, because the weather is ever changing and the air and light is clear and fresh.
There is always a wildness and ruggedness here, which makes you feel alive and appreciate the nature around you.
If you are interested in any of my work or would like a commission, please get in touch.