Initial activity involved exploring a section of words as a means of instigating different textures. With this I looked at themes around cut, slice, roll, carve, squeeze, fold, tear, bore, pierce, beat, smooth, stamp, stretch, rip and smash. I selected to start the process working on larger pieces of clay and edit the compositions further in the process. This offered a freedom in that the boundaries of the tiles didn't restrict or inform the mark making.
These compositions were selected from the initial large tiles, my main focus was exploring a sense of balance and rhythm. Bringing an order to and redefining the original borderless mark making.
To further focus these results, I again selected and cropped. The colour has been desaturated and the contrast enhanced to exaggerate the marks and patterns formed. These could potentially be utilised to initiate and inspire drawings and surface patterns, interconnecting sculptural forms or textural surfaces on 3D forms.
Just some quick sketches exploring potential development from the initial textures.
Activity 2: 5x Man Made/Mechanical, 5x Natural World, 5x Feelings/Emotion/Sensation.
Man Made/Mechanical Tiles. With these I concentrated on notions surrounding cogs, movement and machines. As I worked through them the destructive aspect of the man made started to emerge as I stretched, cracked and disrupted the edges.
Feelings/Emotion/Sensation Tiles. With each I explored a different theme, the first is calm or tranquillity, represented by a smooth band across the centre contrasting the jagged chaos at either side. The second is excitement with the fizzy gestures building to a crescendo. The third is stress captured through a mark that almost vibrates in repetition. The fourth is happiness or joy signified with an open organic wave in contrast to five which represents fear, knotted and consuming itself.
Natural World Tiles. These I think are the least successful as they lack a little in energy and direction. I tried to bring an organic process to them by dropping thing onto them, so I was less in control of the placements, but it hasn't particularly translated. I would like to develop these by maybe taking some clay on a walk and directly interacting with nature or leaving some tiles outside and seeing how the weather or other factors mark them over time.
E/W white and gloss layered over oxides.
Red Iron Oxide
Manganese Oxide
Copper Carbonate
Iron Oxide Yellow Ochre
Chromium Oxide
Cobalt Carbonate
Copper Oxide
Iron Oxide Number 3, 5, 6 and 7 are the most successful as they are the most reactive with the white glaze and offer a richer colour.
S/W white and gloss layered over oxides
Red Iron Oxide
Manganese Oxide
Copper Carbonate
Iron Oxide Yellow Ochre
Chromium Oxide
Cobalt Carbonate
Copper Oxide Taking the tiles to stoneware offered better results. Number 3,5,6 and 7, again offering the richest colours. The Cobalt is my personal favourite as it transitions from clear to white glaze.
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