Post #370662 by Babalu on Tue, Apr 1, 2008 8:08 AM

Hey Hip Lady, Thanks for being patient with me on this project. I've had lot's in the works lately.

Jen - Cammo came over to my studio and shot a picture of me just as I was in the middle of altering a MOW mug for a burner friend of mine. He turned that shot into an event poster for last year Oasis. I had no idea what he was doing at the time. He couldn't give-um away at Oasis...he most likely still has a whole box of them left?

BenZ - Thanks for the drive by! It is always good to hear from one of my favorite artist friends! :)

Mudslinger - I knew if there was anyone that would know how crappy this clay is to work with on TC, it would be you. I love, love, love your swap piece!

Paipo - Well, the construction of these vessels is really not that big of a deal if you are using good clay to begin with. I have done many similar in the past. I am using found object to lay the slabs in to create the shapes. In this case old plastic lamp shades. I coat the plastic form with veggie oil which acts as a release agent...lay the slab in...smooth...then I let it dry a little and pop it out. I then join the pieces together.

This first group of pictures was the first attempt at this bowl. It eventually collapsed on me due to this nasty clay. Note how I started to decorate the outside first.

This second grouping shows the second attempt at Hip's bowl. Note how I have changed my strategy and started to decorate the inside first this time while bracing everything up. Cross your fingers. I still have a ways to go with this, and have plans to build up pretty high on that upper lip area. I included a shot of a past fountain I did using this method of construction. It's big, the top part of it was made using one of those snow rider saucers. It just fit into my kiln.

Heres the clay I'm sending to you Paipo...some Roma, and the hard Chinese stuff that Bowana gave me last week to give to you. You can use them in combination with each other.