Darcy Kane Posted August 6, 2014 Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 My family is of a nautical inclination. Long story short, my SIL has asked me a couple of times to create a casserole for her that has monkey's fists for the knob and handles. The best way I have come up with to attack the fists, is to create a mold and press the clay into the mold. Anyone have any easier/quicker/more simplistic ideas?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted August 6, 2014 Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 So would the nob and handles be essentially the same? Do you plan to reproduce said handles again, for future projects? If you don't plan, to ever make them again, I'd just form and sculpt, some unique pieces. But, if you think there is any way, that you may want to reproduce them again, then yes, I'd suggest making a press mold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted August 6, 2014 Report Share Posted August 6, 2014 Just model them. Punch pinholes out of site to reduce the thickness issue. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted August 7, 2014 Report Share Posted August 7, 2014 As Marcia says, probably modelling is one of the best ways for this. I have often helped students do pieces where hands or fists are needed. A ball of clay to start that has been pinched to a wrist arm form on one end is a start. Then using ribs separate the fingers, and model where the tips touch the palm. Use a pointed dowel to put in the open area between the palm and finger wrap. As the clay stiffens to leather hard, modeling greater detail is easier, and you can finish by joining the wrists on to the casserole. My best take on the process Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darcy Kane Posted August 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2014 I agree that should a monkey's fist actually resemble a hand, it would be easier to model it; however, I should have been more clear. In nautical terms, this is a monkey's fist. If it turns out I would use the design more than the once so I guess creating a mould would be my best bet. So I'm thinking to make the mould I could press clay around an existing MF, allow it to stiffen a bit, split in half, and bisque my resulting mould. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pres Posted August 7, 2014 Report Share Posted August 7, 2014 I think you have solved the problem. Sorry, I did not understand what you needed. If you had said knot in your description, I would have understood. Guess I just skipped over the Nautical part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted August 7, 2014 Report Share Posted August 7, 2014 Yeah, I read the Nautical part, and still thought it was an actual monkey fist. I thought it was part of the mythology, or superstitions. Because of the amount of small detail, I would recommend a mold as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darcy Kane Posted August 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2014 Thank you for your responses. I guess I was hoping for a miracle solution that would require less work As my dad would have said, anything worth doing is worth doing right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schmism Posted August 7, 2014 Report Share Posted August 7, 2014 would it be quicker just to carve it out of a solid hunk of clay. A knob is generally only an inch in diam. if you waited till it was leather hard then "drilled" a hole in the center and carved out a bit, then put the hole "down" on the lid ..... I would think that would be quicker.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bciskepottery Posted August 8, 2014 Report Share Posted August 8, 2014 Consider building a small cube from slabs; then attach coils to the cube to imitate the rope. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted August 8, 2014 Report Share Posted August 8, 2014 I agree. carve and add texture with a rope or textured plastic matt. Marcia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darcy Kane Posted August 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2014 Lots of interesting approaches. Thank you, you have given me lots to think about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benzine Posted August 8, 2014 Report Share Posted August 8, 2014 You could also make the general shape of the knob, then use a mini extruder to add in the rope texture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLowes Posted August 8, 2014 Report Share Posted August 8, 2014 You might be able to emulate the rope texture using a kitchen tool, a zester. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darcy Kane Posted August 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2014 You could also make the general shape of the knob, then use a mini extruder to add in the rope texture. Maybe I can boost some kid's play dough set Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marian65 Posted August 9, 2014 Report Share Posted August 9, 2014 What about making a thinnish pinch pot and close it up (or two halves stuck together). Then before sticking an air hole in it, attach little coils that you've made to look like rope so that it looks like the monkey's fist knot, with whatever number of rows you like and have space for (3, 4, etc.). Even 6 would look good if you made them small enough and would give more texture for glaze to break on. After the piece(s) get leather hard enough for you to carve out any little details you like, then put the air hole in somewhere it won't show and attach it/them to the pot. It sounds like a great project for your nautical family. It would be nice to see a follow-up picture of what you decide on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.