- Feb 7, 2021
- 1 min read

12 January 2021 Slip Sculpting

I’ve been looking at new techniques for decoration recently and have been intrigued by the short videos available to watch on Pinterest. The technique involves layering up slip colours then carving through them with a diamond tool. Looks so easy….

Having created a large hollow shape; the biggest I can get in the kiln ( and the heaviest!) I supported it with an inflated balloon and set about paddling the shape. Lots of learning here, like don’t be over ambitious about the size. It has been difficult to dry the body out so it retains its form whilst at the same time keeping it sufficiently moist so that the slip adheres to the body.

Six layers of different coloured slips: white, orange, green, chocolate…

Then, using the lovely diamond tipped tool my sister bought me for my birthday last year, I set about carving. A lovely feeling to slide through the layers of slip. My technique would stand a lot of improvement, but this is the finished piece. Needs tidying up once it is dry, before its first firing.

Comments

Realising a Dream..

This is me. Setting out on my journey as a hobbyist potter.

Pottery was an ‘add on’ O level course when I was at school, only offered in the sixth form. In to studying Music and RE to A level, I embarked on pottery ‘O’ level as a bit of light relief. I loved it although I was never particularly good at it. I made a few pots, mainly handbuilding using slabbing and coiling but didn’t really learn much.

What I wanted to do more than anything was throw on the wheel – the school did have a wheel but no one was allowed near it unless they knew what they were doing… an interesting approach to the process of acquiring skill methinks. I do have one of my very first pots – rather crude really, but its mine, with my initials ‘scrauped’ on the base. Over the intervening years, of which there were many, I watched the art of throwing from a distance, always hoping that one day it would happen.

We had bought our little cottage in Halifax in 2009. Six years later the adjoining house became available so we set about creating a home by combining the two halves. The ‘under-dwelling’, a feature of a number of houses in that area of West Yorkshire was a real gem; we converted into a pottery studio for me and there began my journey. I enrolled on a course in Springhead. Oldham and my amazingly talented pottery teacher, Sue Devine gave me one-to-one tuition in throwing. I bought a pottery wheel and was given a small kiln. My journey had begun – 40 years later!

Twelve month ago, my partner and I moved to Newport in South Wales. I am most fortunate have a pottery studio here. Why Andante Ceramics? Well, I work slowly, I go with the flow, I create no deadlines for my self. My world of clay is completely self-asbsorbing and tomorrow, if I am fortunate to have one, is another day.

My media pages give a flavour of what I do and my blog documents my thoughts as I journey through the wonderful world of pottery and ceramics. I wont sell any of my work but I delight in making pieces specifically for friends; I love the challenge that creating bespoke pieces bring. If you would like me to make something special do please ask.

Wendy Diamond

12 January 2021 Slip Sculpting

Recent Posts

Comments

Let the posts
come to you.

12 January 2021 Slip Sculpting

Recent Posts

Comments

Let the posts come to you.

Let the posts
come to you.