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offcntrYesterday was cat bank assembly day. I'd made the bodies Thursday, thrown as closed forms on the wheel. I sketch out faces with my index finger and thumbnail--a great improvement over early days, when I made individual eyes, eyebrows and cheeks--dimple the bottom on a bisque form, and leave them to firm up to leather-hard overnight. Meanwhile, Denise and I flopped on the sofa and watched a Leverage episode on DVD while I made parts.
In the morning, I re-impress the bottom (if the air vent I made the previous day closes, air pressure can flatten it out again) and smooth with a rib.
Next I add the features: score and slip ears, nose and fore paw first, as well as their attachment points. Firmly attach, clean up edges, and repeat for the other three paws.
The tails start as extruded coils--it's just faster and more consistent than rolling them out on the tabletop. I do roll the ends to give a nice taper, and a pointy end. Leave them straight overnight, then curl them into an amusing shape this morning. Score, slip, attach. The last thing to go on is the tongue made of pink-colored porcelain clay. It will brighten up considerably in firing.
The last bit of work is subtractive, not additive. I have a sheet-metal cutter just the right size to punch out a hole for the stopped, under the bottom; because the bottom is dimpled, the pot won't wobble on its cork when it's finished. With my hole punch and fettling knife, I cut a coin slot in the back of the head. Lastly, I stamp my signature chop down next to one of the feet.
Repeat nine more times, and I'm done with cats for the day.
I leave them uncovered overnight, to let them stiffen up. Once they're hard leather-hard, it's safe to put them out in the sun to finish drying.
In the morning, I re-impress the bottom (if the air vent I made the previous day closes, air pressure can flatten it out again) and smooth with a rib.
Next I add the features: score and slip ears, nose and fore paw first, as well as their attachment points. Firmly attach, clean up edges, and repeat for the other three paws.
The tails start as extruded coils--it's just faster and more consistent than rolling them out on the tabletop. I do roll the ends to give a nice taper, and a pointy end. Leave them straight overnight, then curl them into an amusing shape this morning. Score, slip, attach. The last thing to go on is the tongue made of pink-colored porcelain clay. It will brighten up considerably in firing.
The last bit of work is subtractive, not additive. I have a sheet-metal cutter just the right size to punch out a hole for the stopped, under the bottom; because the bottom is dimpled, the pot won't wobble on its cork when it's finished. With my hole punch and fettling knife, I cut a coin slot in the back of the head. Lastly, I stamp my signature chop down next to one of the feet.
Repeat nine more times, and I'm done with cats for the day.
I leave them uncovered overnight, to let them stiffen up. Once they're hard leather-hard, it's safe to put them out in the sun to finish drying.