ceramicdesign.org
Contemporary Ceramic Design by Peter Biddulph
Construction
In 2005 I learned techniques for
throwing large pieces. Having tried several of these I found a way of working which
enabled me to create the pieces illustrated here.
I began by throwing large forms and then closing the pieces - the first forms I arrived
at were torpedo shapes, which could be achieved by continuing to throw then closing the
top; a technique I found more difficult than making an inverted top on the wheel then
attaching this to the body by scoring and slipping the edges, which is how these
pieces were constructed.
I discovered that closed forms trap air, which meant that pressure could be applied to
the outside to alter the form while the air pressure inside kept the pieces from
collapsing. I decided that these closed forms would make an interesting starting point
from which to build a collection and did some rough sketches on paper to explore
possible forms.
These acted as a guide only as working on the actual piece involved constant reappraisal
to achieve a form that I felt was interesting and well-proportioned while working within
the limitations of the material (I did not know at that point if a shape such as that
of Terebellum would survive a firing without distorting or slumping as it had a broad
circumference supporting a large conical shape - see below)
Terebellum 75 x 40 cms
Throwing a base and allowing it to stiffen before adding coils to construct the walls gave
me a firm base on which to build without the piece collapsing. I would roll out coils of
JB3, a white stoneware clay, and join them before attaching them to the rim and
continuing to throw. The 'tops' I would make separately and attach later. Deneb, for
example, consists of three pieces, a base, a platter which forms the shoulder of the
piece first thrown then inverted and attached and finally a bowl sunk into the
hollow at the top. (Air pressure tried to force the bowl out again so it had to be
held in place until the slip had stiffened forming a stronger bond).
Deneb 33 x 35 cms - constructed from three thrown pieces
Mekbuda, the tallest piece in the group photograph, was approx 1 metre 10 before firing
and in order to throw the top part I wedged a brick on the wheel's pedal to keep it
turning and stood on a stool to reach the top. Tall pieces such as this tend to wobble
when spinning; I discovered that a 12 inch metal ruler applied pressure evenly over a
greater surface area and prevented chattering (where the turning tool jumps over the
rotating surface), enabling me to achieve more precise, smooth symmetrical curves
than I could with more conventional turning tools.
I had made some earlier vessels parts of the surface of which I decorated with small
indentations forming patterns of dots, from this idea developed holes then the idea of
spines like cacti, which I have grown for many years from seed and whose architectural
forms are also a great source of inspiration.
Using a spray booth meant I could get an even coating of glaze using
relatively small amounts - approximately 1 litre for the larger pieces. To ensure that
the glaze did not fuse over the hole
made for the fibre optic cable, I cleaned the glaze out of each hole with an
inter-dental brush prior to firing. This caused thinning of the glaze around the edge
of each hole giving a marked tonal effect, which is clearly visible in Tarazed where
the glaze ’breaks’ around the holes and on the carved vertical edges.
Tarazed 79 x 14 cms - the glaze ’breaks’ to a paler turquoise around the holes
On a trip to India In 1999 I found the illuminated dashboard displays in the taxis of
Buddha and other deities moulded in perspex and illuminated with accompanying fibre
optic cables very appealing and made a mental note that I would like to work with light
in some way. I decided to incorporate
fibre optic cables into ceramics. Each fibre is cut to the approximate length
required and threaded through the hole and out through the base of the piece. The
top end of each cable is bent to prevent it falling through then glued into place
before finally being cut almost flush with the surface.
Sol 45 x 32 cms - installation of fibre optic cables
Sol 45 x 32 cms - installation of fibre optic cables
Finding many of the available glazes unsympathetic to the pieces I was making I embarked
on an intensive research programme with the support of Ian Currie’s excellent book:
’Stoneware Glazes - a Systematic Approach’, to develop a range of matt and satin matt
glazes more suited to the larger vessels and sculpture I was creating. I found variegated
glazes more appealing than uniform ones, particularly as they often exhibit variation
across a surface, which can be seen in the magnesium glazes on Syrma and Procyon, both
of which use titanium dioxide, which I used extensively to achieve a mottled effect.
Syrma 64 x 17 cms - magnesium glaze