Rolled Slab

For most of my pieces I start off with a 25 pound block of moist stoneware clay which I kneed  and flatten with a rolling pin. The slab thickness varies from piece to piece, but most are roughly 2 to 3 inches thick.  The slab is placed on a work board and trimmed to size.

Rough sketch

I let the slab dry under plastic wrap for a few days until it reaches the right firmness before beginning further work.  Once the clay is ready I draw a rough sketch of the image with a ceramicist’s pick then wrap it again and let it mature for a few more days until the firmness is right for carving.

First Carving

Once the clay is dry enough I begin carving with a variety of ceramicist’s tools.  I sculpt in successive layers, by sketching the next level after carving the first and so on in order to create as much of three dimensional effect as possible.

Second Layer