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molds in general, was: re: do you jig(ger)? help me out here....

updated tue 12 aug 03

 

Eric B on sun 10 aug 03


hi wayne (about molds and reproducing your own work) --

i recently started experimenting with bas relief sculpting and found that the
frailties of a large flat piece (big tile with uneven surface) was too
challenging for firing the original, especially bk i'd wind up adding and
subtracting clay here and there, sometimes spraying it to re-wet the surface. so i
decided to go ahead and make a plaster mold of one of the sculptures so that i
could better guage the clay slab that i used to press into it for uniformity. it
worked. then i realized that i still had that plaster mold to make more of
the same piece! my feeling is that there is nothing wrong with it whatsoever,
even if you're selling the pieces just so long as the customer is not led
(mis-led) into believing that his/her piece cannot be replicated.

it also gives you the opportunity, i found, of experimenting to see which
glaze breaks best over the contours and gives the best effect.

there have been lots of reputable tile makers who do this. i think it is
acceptable in an artistic sense as long as, again, the customer realizes what's
going on.

eric
SpunMud

psci_kw on sun 10 aug 03


Subject: Re: Do you jig(ger)? Help me out here....

What seems to be the general consensus (if there is such a thing)
among this austere group regarding the making of molds for one's
_own_ work?

I just bought about 300 pounds of plaster from a woman who is
leaving the pottery hobby, and moving on to making canvas sails...
whatever... I plan to use it to make plaster bats, but got to thinking...

Along with the plaster comes a kiln, a Brent Wheel, and about
600 different molds, 200 # of ^4 clay, 14 buckets of slip for casting,
glazes, etc. I bought the lot. Got a good price, but I digress...

Do "we" feel it is cheating to mold our _own_ work for reproduction
in slipcast, or not, much as a photographer or painter will sell prints
of their own originals?
I don't think I will ever give up throwing, but
the temptation to knock out a dozen plates or bowls as easily as
throwing 3 or 4 is wery, wery tempting :>)

Wayne in Key West
trying to set up the studio once again (sigh)
now that reconstruction is complete (almost)