Classical, Figurative & Modern Garden & Interior Sculpture at Kirkharle, Northumberland, Uk  Home Classical Sculpture Modern Sculpture Photo Gallery I Photo Gallery II  Exhibitions/Venues  Artist & Studio Production Articles Orders/Enquiries  Production of Red Dust Ceramics I usually start a piece with a line drawing (doodle) and then make a hand-sized model in clay, called a Maquette. However I have gone straight into modelling a full size piece in clay over an armature of polystyrene (to reduce weight). The finished model is then cast in Plaster of Paris to make a one-off working mould. The mould is dried and then malleable clay is pressed, by hand, into the various sections of the mould, before putting all the pieces together to form the finished sculpture. The form is then hand 'fettled'. This refers to the process of re-modelling the seams, edges and surface prior to the piece being dried. The making of the one-off mould together with the hand finishing gives each sculptural piece it's own unique character. Added to this is the value attached to a limited edition as each mould has a short production life. The piece is then dried very slowly to stop the possibility of contortion and cracking. A typical drying period would be between 4-6 weeks. Finally it is placed in the kiln and fired very slowly up to a temperature of 1280 degrees centigrade, in a reduction atmosphere (this takes up to 60 hours), which is the clay vitrification point, thus giving the sculpture complete frost protection. The reduction atmosphere also brings out all colours in the clays.  Home Classical Sculpture Modern Sculpture Photo Gallery I Photo Gallery II  Exhibitions/Venues  Artist & Studio Production Articles Orders/Enquiries  Classical, Figurative & Modern Garden & Interior Sculpture Map Red Dust Ceramics Kirkharle Courtyard Kirkharle Northumberland, UK NE19 2PE Tel: +44 (0)1830 540464 Fax: +44 (0)1830 540465 Email: info@reddustceramics.co.uk Web Design by Snowgoose