Sculptures for outside are generally life size and made of a good quality crank clay, often in monochrome to suit a garden setting, although some are more colourful preferably in matt or semi-matt glazes. All are hand built using slabs and coils then fired to stoneware temperatures to make them frost resistant.
More recently I am making greater use of highly textured crater glazes, particularly for toads and lizards which can be both subtle or colourful and can be suited to indoors or outdoors.
More fragile sculptures are built on armatures, enabling the making of long legs, thin horns and tails, which are strengthened wherever possible with wire and resins. By pushing paper clay to its limits, the perception of lightness and greater elevation can be achieved without the necessity of a base.
Surface decoration for this type of work avoids glazes, allowing the high fired clay to speak for itself, with only stains and oxides in the crevices. The matt finish contrasts with a shiny glaze in the eyes.
Surface decoration for this type of work avoids glazes, allowing the high fired clay to speak for itself, with only stains and oxides in the crevices. The matt finish contrasts with a shiny glaze in the eyes.
Frilled lizards displaying
Length 59 cms |
Chameleon on branch
Length 49cm |
Wildebeest and calf
Length 68 cms
Length 68 cms