Adapting ceramic bodies to create aesthetic varience in glazes

Abstract

This project examines new dialogues between glaze, the (ceramic) body and form (shape).
The project involves exploring how altering the formulation of a ceramic body can dramatically alter the visual (and aesthetic) appearance of the glazed surface.
Under high temperature firing conditions in particular, altering the composition of clay bodies, through additions of both inert and fluxing aggregates has been found to massively change the performance (fluidity, colour and texture) of the fired glazed surface. Testing procedures involve systematically adding varying amounts of material to differing clay bodies, firing them at different temperatures and under differing kiln atmospheres.

The research project also explores how the visual and textural properties of glaze can be effected and manipulated by both subtle and dramatic changes to the underlying form.
At high temperatures, ceramic glazes become in effect a fluid glass (supercooled). Glazes in a molten, fluid state migrate down vertical ceramic surfaces according to the composition of the glaze and increases in temperature. My work explores how subtle manipulation of the clay surface, can alter and direct glaze flow. Where glaze gathers in thicker flows, colour becomes more intense and otherwise unseen interesting effects develop, due to deeper accumulations of ceramic oxides and pigments.

Individually or in combination, through altering the way ceramic glazes melt, flow and accumulate, these two processes can dramatically enhance the visual appearance and drama of glazed ceramics.