Spaceflower – Work in Progress

Starting a piece like this is a little daunting.  I usually begin with some vague sketches of how I want the work to turn out, and as I start I know I’m in for a few full days of rolling out and sculpting hundreds of little protrusions.  Making and applying these frilly little bits can take well over 30 hours of work, not counting creating the base structure or drying time or firings.  I’ll sculpt enough protrusions to complete a row before scoring the surface of the vessel and using slip (liquid clay) to adhere them to the pot.  This process is repeated until the surface is completely covered, and then it’s put away to slowly dry under plastic for a week or two.  The piece will be completely bone-dry before being fired for the first time.