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Each sculpture begins as a wheel thrown
piece. Slips, oxides and inclusions are applied in layers when the clay is
leather hard. The outside is then torched dry. Next, the vessel is
stretched from the inside using smooth scraping tools until the desired effect
is achieved. This is the most difficult and exciting part of the process.
The clay needs to crack on the outside but remain intact and pliable on the
inside. It is a challenge to see how far the clay can be pushed to reveal
its beauty.
The antler-like shapes are made by piercing through the clay from the
inside with a single spear of clay. More spears are then added to
create an antler-like shape. The clay must be dry enough to retain
its shape but soft enough to yield to the sculpting and texturing.
Again the clay is pushed to the edge of its abilities and the results are
rewarding and satisfying.
After bisque firing, more oxides are then rubbed into the outside of the
body of clay. The inside is sometimes glazed depending on the design
of the vessel. The clay body that is used is high fire stoneware.
The final process is to fire the work to cone 10 or approximately 2300 degrees
Fahrenheit.
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