Ready to Test

Yay…Looks like we do have sodium silicate after all (just wasn’t looking hard enough)

This means I’m ready to test! I’m going to do a test with titanium dioxide in replace of the neodymium. All I know… is…titanium dioxide is used in slips for painting on wares and makes things white. Really not sure about casting, but that’s what test are for. EDIT: Just found out TiO2 is an effective opacifier in powder form. Sooooo...fuck that shit...

On another note I’m also casting PVC pipe to make functional objects. So far there is a large tanker mug and forms to make a sake set. There will be photos provided in the future as I get around to taking them.

Slip Casting "Upset Cubes"

This work is done by throwing clay cubes on the ground one on top of the other...when I drop them I first put a layer of wax paper so they don't stick to each other. The way the clay moves reminds me of forging steel. Upsetting is the process of forging the steel thicker. This is done by either slamming the heated steel on an anvil or putting it in a vice and hammering away.

So when I call them upset I'm not talking about their mood, although I don't mind if you think so. Like steel, the dropped clay gets nice looking fat ripples on the surface.

After these are all leather hard, I am going to take molds of each piece then slip-cast them into translucent porcelain....that's the plan anyway. I got mold making down but am new to pouring, finding/making slip.

I found this Cone 10 recipe online that I’m going to test out first:

White Stallion Porcelain, Fara Shimbo, 2002

35 Grolleg
30 Kona F4 (for crystalline glazes) or G-200 feldspar
20 silica
15 EPK
1 part by addition Neodymium oxide.

Using neodymium as a de-colorant is a trick from glassmakers. Put very simply, neodymium selectively absorbs yellow light and e-emits it as blue/violet/red light.

Now casting slip also needs a deflocculant and for this I need to get my hands on some sodium silicate. Two things I can’t find around here…the Neodymium (which I can live with the slip being yellowish) and the Sodium Silicate. It’s easier to find a hooker and meth in these here parts.

So this is goodbye...

Lann in her clay studio., originally uploaded by L to the A to the double N.

I'm starting off first with an early goodbye. Being a recent BFA metals graduate from the Appalachian Center for Craft, I have yet to move on and am not planning on it until July.

In the background of this photo is my old work from my senior show. Both archaic in form and in my mind...I'm fucking done with animals for now. They sit back there like they did before, collecting dust...I'll have to find them a new less dusty home. Looks like those mice did win after all. Everyone wants one but like all else they expect everything for free.

I'm sitting next to my new forms. I'll be posting more on them as I continue my adventure into slip-casting.

Hello.