Central Coast Potters Society
  • Welcome
  • About
  • Membership
  • COURSES
    • ADULTS
    • KIDS
  • Events
  • Contact Us
  • Blog

CCPS DEMONSTRATION REPORT           

19/2/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture
www.ashleyfiona.com
ASHLEY FIONA McHUTCHISON - Saturday 14 February 2015
   
Ashley Fiona McHutchison hand rolls thin slabs of master blend porcelain clay in the manufacture of exquisite beakers, mugs, cups and sugar bowls with spoons, which she decorates with under glaze.  Samples were displayed for us to marvel at and purchase.

She had a simple, neat set up and keeps her workspace clean.  A board covered with a pillow slip to work on, rolling pin, foam to place work on, heat gun or hair dryer, slip, bucket of water, sponges, kidney, small brush, needle, knife, and wire brush.

Ashley showed us drawer liner plastic cut into templates and used a flat-sided kidney to smooth this evenly, gently easing the bubble-textured side into a hand-rolled slab, transferring the pattern into the clay.  She then traced the mug shape template with a needle, removed the template and using a knife, cut out the traced shape, beveling the edges that are to be joined - a lip for the mug can be made by wiping a kidney over the edge of the clay.  She slipped and scored the area to be joined, draped the slab around the rolling pin and joined the slab by gently rolling the join together, then turned the rolling pin until the join was on top.  She pressed the end of a chopstick several times along the line of the join, making a pattern and strengthening the join.  She then placed the cylinder on top of a piece of foam, to reduce handling, and to keep the shape solid.  To finish the join, she ran some slip inside and outside the join with a brush to consolidate it and to remove cracks.  It made a very neat join.

Sitting the mug on a largish sponge with a tool either side to stop it from moving, Ashley measured the length of the handle. Her hand built handles have a pulled look. She rolled a coil, and using a small tool pressed it length wise into the coil 3 times, then trimmed the edges. She places the handle to the left of the mug seam - better for right-handed drinkers. The handle is added after marking position, slipping and scoring the beaker, pinching and pushing with index finger and thumb to attach. As this is happening the other hand is placed inside for support.  A chopstick is rolled over the clay to help attach the handle and smooth clay, finally painting slip over to neaten and finish.  Ashley leaves a 5cm width from top to bottom of handle. It is important it fits the hand and is balanced with the size of the mug.

Next, using a beaker template, Ashley demonstrated how she works with darts. When cutting the darts, the dart edges were beveled.  The cylinder join was worked the same as the mug. Don't press too hard with the rolling pin or the porcelain will crack.   The darts were then joined, slightly overlapping the clay, pressing together and smoothing.  Ashley used scissors to cut excess clay from the dart joins.  The circle base was made using a slab, imprinting the bottom of the cylinder on the slab for size, then cutting out the circle.  Ashley has a lovely stamp which includes her web site, she pressed this into the middle of the base circle.  To join the base she passed her sponge over the base of the cylinder, slip and scored the slab with the wire brush, lined up her stamp with the seam, placed the base on top of cylinder and used her roller to compress it onto the cylinder.  When she was happy with this she painted the inside join with slip.

The teaspoon, to go with the sugar bowl, is also a template. A thumb print forms the scoop.

Ashley was very attentive to moisture content in the slab as consistency is extremely important.  She uses a heat gun to make the porcelain a usable consistency when too wet and a plastic lidded container with wet plaster in bottom to store green ware.

In her practice Ashley uses a small production line technique, rolling a series of slabs and then using the first slab as it becomes more solid. Cracking is her biggest enemy. She fires to cone 9 or 10 (1240˚C to 1250˚C) using Chrysthos underglaze on green ware applied using a slip trailer, and sponge stamps followed by a clear Cesco brush on glaze, which she thins in order to dip as well as brush on.

Ashley's trick for small cracks - embellishments. A small rectangle of clay is added when small cracks will not repair.  These embellishments add to the quirkiness of the work.

Ashley's tips
  • Wet knife & rolling pin before use.
  • Slip mix = vinegar + clay (dry) + water, mixed with a stick blender.  It is quite liquid.
  • Repairs are made with vinegar, up to leather hard.
  • When rolling a slab, turn it over and roll different directions.
  • When rolling slabs, roll from middle out, cut off thin edges. Trim edges to avoid cracking.

The first demonstration of the year was a joy to attend. I was impressed by Ashley Fiona's good eye, steady hand, clean and organised work area, and well-presented, interesting demonstration. She is thorough in her practice, meticulous in her work and well organised.

Thank you Marienne for organising it and the lovely morning tea.

Lesley Weber

1 Comment
Markus Forbes link
23/6/2022 05:40:26 am

Appreciate this bloog post

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Welcome to the CCPS blog!

    Central Coast Potters Society is a non-profit, community organisation of like-minded volunteers who love clay.

    On our blog showcases some of the events and activities undertaken at CCPS.

    Please keep in mind general rules of social media interaction. CCPS reserves the right to censor any offensive comments. They will not be posted.

    Categories

    All
    1st Prize
    2nd Prize
    Altered Pots
    Art Prize
    Arts & Crafts Pavilion
    Ccps
    Ceramics
    Classes
    Clay
    Competitions
    Demonstrations
    Exhibition
    Firing
    Glaze
    Glazing
    Gosford Regional Gallery
    Handbuilt
    Highly Commended
    Ikea
    Ikea Kiln
    Jacqueline Clayton
    Japanese Tea Ceremony
    Keiko Matsui
    Mad Hatters
    Members
    Membership
    Non Members
    Obituary
    Open Day
    Paul Davis
    Pit Firing
    Porcelain
    Pots
    Pottery
    Raku
    Residencies
    Royal Easter Show
    Stefan Jakob
    Tea
    Tea Bowls
    Thrown
    Wheel Thrown
    Workshops

    Archives

    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2017
    July 2017
    April 2017
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    November 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    September 2012
    August 2012
    June 2012
    April 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011

    RSS Feed

    Follow this blog
Central Coast Potters Society
02 4324 5343
​Email CCPS
www.ccpotters.org
Workshop
10a Russell Drysdale Street
East Gosford, NSW, 2250
  • Welcome
  • About
  • Membership
  • COURSES
    • ADULTS
    • KIDS
  • Events
  • Contact Us
  • Blog