My large oven dishes are now bisque fired (the first of the two firings, to 1000°C) and glazed, ready for their second firing (to 1280°C) over the weekend. Only a few will be fired due to the kiln pack and the other pieces that are being fired. After making them with false bases, I’ve decided to go back to making them whole and then altering them into an oval shape. It was very slow to make them with false bases. Joining the pieces together took ages. Getting the detailing right; and the decoration process was broken up. I know now and it was definitely worth a go.
Yesterday I finished making a couple soap dishes, humbug ones. I really liked the accidental one that came out of the firing last year so decided to make one on purpose. The contrast of black and white and of positive and negative is eye catching.
Laying out and creating the pattern with the strips of newspaper is fun to do. When I first started making them, I tried to keep the strips as even and straight as possible. I realised quickly that it’s easier said than done when using a scissors. I prefer the uneven thicknesses and crooked lines now. It adds character, a perfect imperfectness that is part of handmade objects. It gives a hint as to how the piece is made.
I’m changing and improving the way I make them all the time. I made a template for the dish shape. It’s much quicker to make them now and I know that the shape, curve and size is right. I use the remaining decorated clay to make the feet; it reduces waste and adds extra detail. I’m always playing with the design of the feet. This time I cut out a curved shape in them to add a visual lightness; and so they are more in keeping with the shape of the dish too.
