Rusty pots

A lot of my current designs are involving rusty ceramic surfaces which I create using slip, underglaze and a lot of iron oxide, which is essentially rust. These designs have been inspired by numerous photographs of rusty surfaces created by the sea - mainly from the Iron Men at Crosby beach. 

Here are some experiments I've been working on recently. I think they need more work than the pieces I've posted previously, which were inspired by barnacles. I'm not unhappy with these experiments but I can certainly see ways of improving them. 

At the moment, I'm finding the oxides to be a bit unpredictable and this has meant some of my results haven't come out quite as bold as I'd imagined. For instance, the piece above is a very toned down colour scheme compared to what I'd designed and anticipated. Anyone studying ceramics expects these kinds of hiccups, so thankfully these results haven't been too discouraging. 

Although some of the surfaces weren't what I originally had in mind, I've got ideas on how to improve the problems and will have a busy few weeks making more vessels and testing things such as heavier applications of slip and oxides. 

Portobello Beach, Edinburgh

Recently, I spent a weekend in Edinburgh. We visited endless galleries as well as vintage and antique shops, so generally, the trip was really inspirational. 

Being a lover of the sea, I spent a morning at Portobello beach which is along the coast of the Firth of Forth. The beach has several prominent wooden groynes, which are designed to stop erosion. On these I found some fantastic, really beautiful natural surfaces - mainly rust and barnacles created by the ocean. 

I'm currently using these images in my design work and creating pieces inspired by them. The surfaces are so rich and interesting, I've got endless things to test and try out. Here's a sneak peak from my sketchbook, showing just a few ideas and how I've used the photographs to influence my designs. 

I'm really enjoying the design process, combining the eroded surfaces with my family photographs and trademark nostalgic imagery from the Great British seaside. I'm looking forward to doing more tests with slip, oxide and underglaze and getting some pieces made which were inspired by my visit to Scotland. 

Glaze, oxide and underglaze...

These are the pieces from my last post. They have now been glazed and covered in oxides to help create an decayed surface, inspired by erosion from the ocean. 

Generally, I'm really happy with these results. Some need a bit of refinement, especially with the (bright blue) cobalt oxide. I will definitely be using more copper oxide (green) to create more natural shades and to stop the blue being quite as striking. 

Opening a kiln in sometimes really nerve-wracking so I'm really happy to have some tests I'm pleased with, finally! I'm excited to create these surfaces on larger vessels and refine all of the techniques I've experimented with. 

If you're interested in adding colour to ceramic surfaces or just want to know more about the processes involved, here are some useful, informative links:  

http://ceramicartsdaily.org/free-gifts/how-to-add-color-to-your-ceramic-art-a-guide-to-using-ceramic-colorants-ceramic-stains-and-ceramic-oxides/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSsJb0uTp9M

Test tiles to vessels...

A few results I'm happy with and want to develop

I've started to use the successful techniques on small test pieces

Bisque fired vessels -
I'm excited to see the surface results after oxides, underglaze and glaze have been applied

Seaside Erosion

These images show part of my current design process, which originated from some photographs I took at Crosby Beach, otherwise known as "Another Place" by Antony Gormley. "Another Place" consists of 100 cast-iron, life-size figures stretched along the coastline and into the sea.

The pieces explore man's relationship with nature - tested by tide and time. The "Crosby Iron Men" are a permanent feature on the beach, constantly exposed to all weather conditions, light and the ocean. They are ever-changing and at the sea's mercy, which has resulted in beautiful natural surfaces covering the cast-iron surface.

The Iron Men are spectacular as an installation, but what makes them inspiration to me is how the sea has made each one unique. They began as 100 identical sculptures and now each one is beautiful in its own right, constantly changing season by season and in different lights.

A close-up I took of one Iron Man's surface

Oxides and underglaze before the glaze firing

Bisque fired tile with texture and coloured slip

Oxides and underglaze added

The finished test tiles

The images above show some tests I've been working on and now intend to develop onto vessel forms. These experiments were all based on the close-up photograph of one of the Iron Men. I'm currently exploring ways to create eroded textures on ceramic surfaces using coloured slips, underglazes, oxides and glazes. I'm really excited about some of the techniques I've discovered this semester and can't wait to perfect these on my slip-cast forms.