Friday, March 12, 2010

Letters now a' cookin ...

After having been threatened with instant ex-communication by our Blog Leader if I didn't get my letters in by the end of this month, I have been frantically putting together my three-months-worth of "lettered stacks", and as I write this blog A to L are happily sitting in the kiln slowly getting hotter until in ten hours time they reach 1000 degrees - and have hopefully survived the experience ...







My seven-letter-stacks letters are made out of 'paper-clay' and in size are 7cm cubed. I make the paper-clay out of recycled office paper - which I shred then soak in water ( and a slurp ofbleach to kill any bacteria that might form ) for a month. I then put the paper through a device that pulps it, and then add the pulp to liquid clay ( also recycled ) and let stand for another couple of months. The mixture is then poured onto plaster blocks and left until the clay is ready to work with. I love working with paper-clay as it is so forgiving and enables the artist to create forms and joins that normal clay just couldn't cope with.


A to L stacks ready to be fired ...

The letter-stacks are first fired to 1000 degrees ( bisque ) - then I paint them with a cobalt glaze and fire again to 1080 degrees ... and if all goes well I will open the kiln door next week and there will be 'A to L' in all their blue glory - stay tuned.


Loading my letters into the kiln with June's rats !!! ...

cheers - Ken Munsie

5 comments:

Noela Mills said...

Fabulous, Ken - definately worth the wait. Love the originality. Looking forward to the next stage. xoxo

Mieke van Sambeeck said...

finally got there! good work.
They look fantastic so far, and will look even better next week.

Fiona Dempster said...

Good to see the threats worked! (and the weather held long enough...)Definitely worth the wait - they are looking fabulous and exciting - thanks for persisting!

Fiona

Gemma Black said...

How much? I bags first dibs! Wicked letters Ken!

x gb

SassyJean said...

WOW! Can't wait to see the final letters. Can I put in my order?!?