My usual method of hand-building clay sculptures is to add “wet” clay to the general shape and keep building outwards. Just recently I have been using a new method of “hand-carving” clay, which I find exciting and very much enjoyable. It grew out of a desire to make small clay sculptures that were very bold and graphic, their simplicity lending them a power which belies their small size. Inspired by Folk art and Inuit carvings (mixed in with my love for the work of Matisse and other 20th century masters), they use the language of simple lines and planes. I start by drawing out the basic outline on to a thick, rolled out sheet of clay, which I allow to go leatherhard. I use knives and sharp blades to cut into and scrape away at the resistant, but still soft, clay. It is akin to carving in wood, but is much quicker and more immediate. Every mark of the tools is left on the surface – it is like a history of the making process. I prefer not to interfere with the surface once the design has been achieved, keeping it fresh and vital. Pieces can also be joined together with slip to add a base or other elements. These hand-carved clay sculptures are all unique one-offs but I can produce similar pieces if required although they will never be identical.
This new work will be shown for the first time at the two shows below:
29– 31 July Potfest in the Park
Hutton-in-the-forest, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 9TH
www.potfest.co.uk
5 – 7 August Art in Clay (17th National Pottery and Ceramics Festival)
Hatfield House, Hertfordshire AL9 5NQ
www.artinclay.co.uk
Paul Smith July 2011
How exciting to be carving! I have used clay in maquettes, and tend to carve it too, as I'm not very good in the wet clay building up process - I'm not so daring as to leave all the process marks like you, perhaps I should be bolder! Great Bear.
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