Guldagergaard Residency: Testing Times

I can’t believe I’ve been here for two weeks now – I’ve been very busy, but there’s still so much I want to do before I leave.  My residency culminates in a solo exhibition at Guldagergaard’s ’Apple House Gallery’ so the pressure is on to have a collection of beautifully finished and exciting pieces to fill this contemporary space.
 
This past week has involved a lot of testing clay bodies, coloured slips and glazes whilst my plaster moulds dry out. My way of making needs a casting slip and throwing clay with very similar shrinkages in order for the pieces not to crack or break apart in the firing - this will be particularly important for the large vessels I’m planning. The clays and slips available at Guldagerggard are different to the ones I’m used to working with at home so I need to test them thoroughly before I start work on my final forms.
 
I am also taking the oppurtunity to create some tests for  the soda and woodfiring kilns that will be fired over the next few weeks. This is an area in which I have only a little experience so I am really looking forward to being involved.
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