Assesment next Thursday!

Recovering well from surgery and back on track!
A lot has transpired over the last few weeks. I've since made wall peices as well as the first two tunnel books, designed and ordered a perspex box for the first tunnel book, won a $250 tertiary ceramics award for my wall peices at the Canberra Potters Society members exhibition!! that was a huge highlight ;o) - I took some photos but have yet to download them from my camera, so this post will be empty until then!
I've been doing a lot of tests on the keraflex too. Glazing it green and testing both sides of the keraflex - discovered it warps in different ways!
I've glazed on top of the decals with great success in both a earthenware clear and a stoneware clear - in the stoneware the decal has changed colour to warmer/redder tones which is rather nice too.
The china paints are great to work with and the work is much like painting on the old photographs and film strips! I am now also testing baby oil as the mixing medium as it is less toxic ;o) o and much cheaper too lol! Looks good, the difference is it is a runnier oil and needs re-mixing often as it seperates/curdles quickly!
I'll have to add more info later as I really must go and prepare my reports and research details for Thursday.

Crit

I'm up for critique tomorrow! I'll update later to let you know how it goes.

UPDATE:
Well that wasn't so bad ;o) I discussed my work, the process and any technical challenges and that was about it! Only small questions asked i.e. how far apart were the wall pieces going to be separated - my answer = 5mm; and "I bet you don't drink!" - I believe this is in reference to the delicate material and the fine cutting I am doing lol!

I screwed up with one batch of laser decals. In a rush to print them out and get to uni I did not notice that Word changed the size of them!! So they were all 2cm too small. (I'll still use them - maybe in the wall art?)
Yesterday I spent the time at uni cutting and placing decals. It is slow going! Janet was right when she said that my project is huge lol! I thought it was going to be relatively quick to produce them, however I hadn't taken into account the enamels and the drying time between coats - I am building up in layers, Greg suggested I fire inbetween coats instead. I'll definately try this option.
I also need to try a copy glazed to see if it improves the strength of the Keraflex.

Today I am hoping to contact a place in Fyshwick that custom makes perspex to your needs - I'll be using these possibly as the bases. I'll let you know how that progresses...

Week ending Friday 30th

My Workspace at Uni...

Not much has progressed, though much has been worked through! With helpful guidance from Janet and Joanne I have decided to look at using a clear base with feet (for ease of lifting the artwork). The clear base will better display the pages and still be able to host a light source.

I've been painting and thats about it!

Janet has suggested I try firing up to 1320C in a gas kiln to see if that will give added strength. I will also try with a clear glaze.

Off for 10 days on a cruise starting Saturday so I had best get a move on!!

I've now experienced a class critique session - pretty impressive! Two people were up on Thursday - starting with a show and tell, the questions and suggestions follow. I can see how helpful they can be, not only to keep on track but to get some great brainstorming for solving technical difficulties etc.

Page 2 almost finished!

IWP Proposal

Aim: To express visually the history of the book through an illustrated tunnel ceramic book form. Exploring light and colour using china paint and lustre and decals. A desire to keep the book experience alive - a separate being from electronic forms. Create a ceramic book that stimulates the senses.

Method: Slabs; press moulds; slip casting - most likely this will be the best method for reproduction. Stoneware clays, porcelain. - CHANGED PLAN! Keraflex is the material I will be using. I made a couple of moulds but came to the quick conclusion that using porcelain slip will be too fragile to cut and manipulate in such thin sheets.

The piece will be unglazed. Using different firing techniques for various sensory stimulation's and use of texture - CHANGED PLAN! Using Keraflex will limit me to firing techniques and texture. I will be using colour and depth of field. Scale will vary on each book form.

Outcome: An array of stimulating, sensory, intimate book forms both displayed on table plinths and wall hangings. - (MAY HAVE TO RETHINK THIS! I'll try out both and see)

Bought a huge batch of A3 .5mm keraflex (omg expensive!)and ordered 43 China paints + a 'wet' and a 'dry' oil last week - all has arrived safely, though I was worried when one of the boxes arrived damaged! Luckily this box had been packed with padding where as the others weren't.
So far I have two tests made up of the first books (in cardboard mock up) and I have tested out the Keraflex in a first firing. Fragile stuff!

I am going to have to buy some new shelves for my kiln as they are not in the best shape... bits of glaze and crap stuck to some shelves - they'll need grinding... one page stuck to the top shelf (which came from another kiln...) I didn't see there was some glaze on the shelf which it stuck to.
Ah well. Moving on, I am playing with the china paints this week and testing out 'Australian Open' as an oil medium. This is a 'wet' oil and so far seems OK and has a pleasant aroma (it's the gum turps that is stinking out the house).

I've been thinking hard on how to 'bind' the books - They won't be bound in the traditional sense as each page will be free standing. So I was thinking of presenting them on a polished wooden base with maybe slots cut in and dowels for supports... however I was recently thinking that maybe I could make the base out of unglazed terracotta - I'm still thinking about it. I'll have to make one out of each and see which suits best.