Post #794375 by danlovestikis on Mon, Apr 8, 2019 8:16 PM

TheBigT thank you, they are really fun to carve when watching TV. I can't just sit there and stare at the screen.

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Wish List #8 Phase Four. I made a good mistake. I first made a mug for Fred Ferrer of a vintage ashtray. Then I re-read his request and it was for a bowl. So I finished the bowl and posted it and now I'm posting the mug (it's huge). He is taking both and is happy that I made this mistake.

This is the bowl that I made which was his request.

Here are some of the steps to using the helmet mold for the first time to make the ashtray mug.

I started by adding clay all the way around the inverted area so I could make the mouth shaped like the ashtray.

Then I began to build his nose.

I cut off the top and used it to build the rest of his head.

I first glued it with sticky clay to the front.

I built up the clay until it was the right size. I sculpted his nose in place and then to double check I did a bit of carving. Then I stopped to let it firm up for a few days.

Matching the texture of the ashtray I used a ballpoint tool to dent the clay.

Then in larger areas I used the back end of a paint brush to do the same.

Then I carved some designs.

All done.

I left the top of the head open for dry ice or flaming rum soaked sugar cubes. He would be fun if jazzed up that way.

I don't know if I would ever make this again. It took a week to sculpt and I still have to glaze it after the bisque fire. I just put number one on the bottom because it is #1.

Back to work, Wendy