One of the lessons I have learned working with clay, is patience. You can’t refine details until the clay is ready. With porcelain the window for readiness is narrow. There is a sweet spot where the clay is soft enough to manipulate yet firm enough to hold the shape. With this porcelain, if it is too dry it gets crumbly, too wet it’s mushy. It’s a delicate dance.
So many thoughts rush in when I am in the creative zone. It’s hard not to let the world around you in the mix. Sometimes I begin with a definite concept or theme. I began this piece facing the blank clay canvas with the idea I might add another element to this head. Then I decided instead of one face, one view, I would work to create four faces for fully three dimensional piece.
The challenge is to treat each face as a distinctly different piece. So each face must be obviously different.
To focus on each face without feeling rushed by the drying clay, I put a wet rag over the faces I am not currently sculpting. Instead of spraying water on the entire clay sculpture in process, I apply moisture only where needed using a cup of water and my fingers.
I’m looking forward to seeing where this piece takes me.
Check back, next week.
Barbara Melnik Carson 