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Making Ceramic Molds
Mold making opens up endless potential for creative expression. Here, you’ll learn about making and using molds in ceramics. Browse through our archive of articles to find a variety of techniques from making plaster molds for slip casting and press molding to making bisque hump or slump molds. And be sure to download your free copy of the Ceramic Workshop Handbook: Clay Tools and Ceramic Studio Reference. This handy studio reference includes plaster mixing tips in case you’d like to explore plaster mold making and a comprehensive directory of manufacturers and suppliers that provide ceramic equipment, raw materials, clay tools and ceramic supplies.
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February 19, 2010
Forget the Plaster! How to Make a Surprisingly Durable Hump Mold out of Unfired Clay
We ceramic artists use plaster for everything from drying or wedging surfaces to stamps or molds for slip casting. But potter Lauren Sandler has been making hump molds for her work out of unfired clay. This way she doesn't have to deal with the mess of plaster, doesn't have to wait for her molds to dry and be fired, plus, if she gets tired of the form, she can reclaim the clay for some other use. Now, I don't mean to diss our good friend plaster, but I do love the simplicity, speed, and versatility of this method.
December 28, 2009
Going Industrial: One Potter Shares his Experience with the Mass Production of his Pottery
Why would someone who has spent most of his adult life pursuing excellence in handmade pottery enthusiastically pursue mass production? That's the question David Pier asked himself when he faced the conflict of wanting to meet high levels of craftmanship and design, but still keep the pricing on his pots affordable. In today's post, David tells us all about his forays into mass production.
December 23, 2009
(Slip) Cast Party: Creating Unique Double-Walled Forms Using Mold Making and Slip Casting Techniques
Today, Hiroe Hanazono shares her process for slip casting double walled forms, from making the pattern and the mold, to the casting part. The rest of her process, including her subtle mishima decoration, is featured in the January/February issue of Pottery Making Illustrated.
October 21, 2009
Combining Histories: Make, Scan, Mill, Print, Adjust, Repeat
For the past few years we have utilized several forms of rapid prototyping to explore new methods of creating form. At The Ohio State University ceramics program, we have a large Techno Isel CNC (computer numerically controlled) router and a Konica Minolta Vivid 910 3D scanner, a Z-Corp 510 3D printer and a soon-to-be-operational Epilog laser cutter. In an environment where research and development are crucial activities, we willingly embrace these new technologies in search of a balance between traditional craft and industrial practice.
August 5, 2009
An Introduction to Slip Casting Ceramics with Multi-Piece Molds
Today, potter Linda Gates walks us through the slip-casting process for one of her jug forms using a four-piece plaster mold for the body and a two-piece plaster mold for the handle.
March 11, 2009
Casting Call: How to Mix Casting Slip for Sculpture and Pottery; Plus 3 Great Slip Casting Tips
Ceramic artist Valerie Zimany explains how to make a casting slip out of the clay body she uses and gives some handy tips to remember when working with molds and clay.
December 12, 2008
Mold Making Video: How to Make Plaster Sprig Molds for Ceramics
In today's video, our own Holly Goring demonstrates how to make a simple plaster sprig mold. Simple though they are, these molds are great little tools for adding interest to pottery. Why not cast a motif you are fond of in plaster so you can use it over and over again on your work? In addition to the video, we'll show you some work with sprigged decoration and present some step-by-step photos and instructions on how to use sprig molds. - Jennifer Harnetty, editor.
September 26, 2008
Hey everyone, Sherman Hall here (I'm the guy on the left at the top of the page). I have three things to announce today; First, our managing editor, Jennifer Harnetty (the one in the middle), just went on maternity leave, so a big CONGRATULATIONS goes out to her and hubby and the new one. This brings us to the second announcement, which is that you're stuck with me and Bill (you guessed it---he's the one on the right) for a few months. Don't worry, this scares us as much as it scares you, so we came up with announcement number three: our invaluable editorial assistant, and resident plaster whiz kid, Holly Goring, made a video on making a one-piece ...
September 24, 2008
Using Slip Casting, Handbuilding, Press Molding and Throwing Techniques to Create Complex Sculptures
Today we are giving a sneak peek of the upcoming November issue of Ceramics Monthly magazine, which features ceramic artist Valerie Zimany. Readers of Ceramics Monthly might remember Valerie's work from the 2008 Emerging Artist issue back in May. Valerie creates her abstract ceramic sculpture using a variety of techniques and she explains those to us below. She also shares her a recipe for a "super-stick-em-up" slip, which really helps in assembling her complex pieces.
