Working on Sgraffito

Work in progress. Hours of pleasure removing the colored slip to reveal the contrasting clay beneath.

Sgraffito Rocks!

Those of you who follow me on Facebook will have gathered by now that I have fallen under the spell of the sgraffito technique.  I guess it is because it affords me a complete range of expression, from throwing the form, to the design elements of decoration, and the most satisfying aspect of the tactile experience of carving.  I am being nudged into a whole new direction, combining relief stamping, with sgrafitto negative space design, incising and slip trailing.  I am excited about following where this is all leading me. It would seem for the moment that "color" is taking a back seat to the "clay" as I am restricting the surface color to one or two colors in contrast to the basic clay color.

More Clay and Lots more Color

So sorry for the long silence.  That's what happens when you get buried in work! But I have not stopped potting and playing with clay.  Far from it.  This week my Etsy Shop will be restocked with exciting new techniques and pieces.  As you will all see, I have fallen in love with the sgraffito technique.  It is quite labor intensive, but so exciting and tactile.  I will soon post a blog on the technique itself, but for now, let me bring you up to date with what I have been producing.

The Chi Chi Platter and the Crossroads Organization

The Shelter and The Crossroads Organization are embarking on a joint Silent Art Auction on October 8th 2012. By Aarti Gosine

by The Crossroads Organisation

 On the 8th October 2012, The Shelter and The Crossroads Organisation will be hosting a Silent Auction at the Trinidad and Tobago Art Society, located at Federation Park, Port-of-Spain.  Bidding opens at 4.00pm and closes at 8.00pm sharp.  There will be Lynx and credit card facilities available on site.
The Shelter
Established in 1987, by a group of interested persons in a house provided by the government.  The Shelter, formally called The Saaman Shelter for Battered Women and Children offers a secure safe environment, counseling and support services for victims of domestic violence and their children.  It is one of the first safe houses set up in the Caribbean.  Family violence attacks the integrity of that unit and consequently the society.  The Shelter is dedicated to delivering support to victims of domestic violence and eradicating family violence in Trinidad and Tobago.
The Crossroads Organisation (TCO) was registered in 2012 by a group of citizens of Trinidad and Tobago with a common desire to help the less fortunate of our nation.  TCO’s stated mission is “to make a positive impact on the lives of those in need through direct aid or by acting as a conduit to other local, regional or international organization which may be better able to assist”.
The proceeds of this project will be shared 50/50 between The Shelter and TCO
The Shelter will utilize the funds derived from this project towards the outreach-counseling programme, which assists victims who are not yet ready to come into the facility.  In an attempt to break the cycle of violence, the outreach programme also includes the perpetrators of domestic violence.
TCO will apply the proceeds directly to The Chi Chi Project Phase I, their first project, and named after Rachael Wilson-Blanc, nicknamed “Chi Chi” who lost a hard-fought battle with cancer in 2008.  TCO will purchase and donate the equipment required for the Neonatal Resuscitation Provider Course training and certification of the staff in NICU and Labour Ward in the Neonatal Department of the POSGH.  Dr. Jennifer Delamore, Neonatal Consultant at the POSGH and a certified NRP instructor, has volunteered to train the staff.  When this course was introduced to the Mt. Hope Women’s Hospital the perinatal mortality rate was reduced by 25%.
Additional inquiries can be obtained by contacting Sherron Harford at sherron@thecrossroadsorg.com or Elizabeth Talma-Sankar at admin@trinidadshelter.com or 628-1116.

I was pleased and proud to have been able to participate in this very worthwhile event through my donation of the Chi Chi Platter, especially created in the memory of my niece and Goddaughter Rachael.

Mugs, mugs and more mugs

Just in time for Christmas gift giving.  I posted my latest work in my Etsy Shop this morning.

Cups and Platters

This week I have posted some new work in my Etsy Shop.  It has been some time since I tackled a large platter.  I choose earthenware clay as the shrinkage is less, and I have fewer problems with the clay cracking around the bisqued form that I use as a mold.  This one has turned out particularly pleasing, has fired with no signs of warping or slumping.  I had fun decorating it in the majolica style that is popular in Italy and Portugal.

I next played around with hand forming a scalloped edge serving bowl which I first painted in white slip, then decorated in colored slips.

Four stoneware coffee mugs hand thrown in stoneware clay and slip decorated finished up the week for me.

Testing for Thermal Shock and Crazing

Coffee Mugs and Cups are particularly vulnerable to thermal shock and crazing, as hot liquid is poured into them, then when finished they are quickly rinsed under cold water. I am concerned that my pieces remain beautiful for years, and are food safe so I have devised this simple test that I run on each batch of fired cups.

First I fill the cup with ice cubes and water.  I  bring my kettle up to a full boil, and quickly pour out the iced water and fill with boiling water.  I leave in for around 1 minute, then replace the boiling water with ice cubes and cold water again.  I repeat this process, and finally leave boiling water in the cup for several minutes.  I then carefully examine the interior for any signs of small hairline cracks.