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I Want Porcelain!


TSE

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Hey everyone! Nice to join these forums.

 

Currently taking an introduction to clay-spinning class and have gotten pretty good at it through a lot of practice.

 

My question to you guys is, I want to incorporate ceramics into my industrial design degree and throw some pieces in my portfolio. I am particularly interested in making professional-looking porcelain pieces. 

 

Some examples I really like: 

 

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_soOYpIA9AMM/TPq3WoNkasI/AAAAAAAADzo/9bvNe_AgMPU/s640/0412_sori_3.jpg

 

http://the189.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Sori-Yanagi-and-His-Works-2.jpg

 

https://www.behance.net/gallery/11963461/Japan-food-plate

 

I was told by my instructor that we have access to porcelain, but all the completed pieces she showed me the finish wasn't perfectly white and had cracks and such, she said this was a byproduct of the firing and nothing can be done to get rid of these imperfections!

I know when there's a will, there's a way! How!

 

 

Thanks guys!

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You have good taste!

The pieces you link to in your postings are excellent examples of fine craftsmanship ... years of practice.

The teapot looks like a cast piece ... Made in an original mold designed by the potter.

Not saying you can't do it, but how long do you have to get your degree?

 

Laguna's porcelain 'Frost' is a Cone 6 body that is very white, smooth ... and somewhat easier to use ...

but only relative to other porcelains. As a whole, porcelains are more demanding clay bodies. Because they have no grog they tend to slump and crack during firing. If you can't stand imperfections, porcelain will make you crazy!

 

Best of luck.

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Hi TSE and welcome to the forums.

 

The examples of the work you like all look slip cast not thrown. Were you set on throwing or hand building your work or is slip casting something you do?

 

If the porcelain your instructor has access to isn't as white as you like then try some from another source. You didn't mention where you are from, suppliers vary by location but getting a very white porcelain that doesn't crack is definitely doable. If the instructor is firing and cooling the kiln properly then cracks are generally formed during the drying stage of the process or when not compressed adequately during the forming. Successfully fixing a crack after firing is iffy, perhaps that is what your instructor meant.

 

If you are currently taking an intro to wheel throwing class and using stoneware  I think you will find porcelain more of a challange.

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Sounds like access, but no interest in following up with your request. Good porcelain will require very stringent studio clean areas. Your teacher may not be up to the challenge.

 

The pieces you reference look like castings all. Just a personal opinion.

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I go to Iowa State University. Sorry, it wasn't my instructor that told me that, it was the teacher's assistant.

 

Is it possible to cast pieces for a student?

 

I am not expecting this to be an overnight thing, I have two years left for my degree and want ceramics to be part of my focus, and I just absolutely LOVE white porcelain products and always have!

 

Is there a good online supplier of porcelain? 

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Usually I would just shut up and let it go ... but I believe you sincerely want to be able to cast or throw beautifully made porcelain.

 

This is going to be very difficult in a studio situation where you are the only one doing this.

For mold making success you need to learn from someone who knows mold making and slip casting.

For porcelain work you need to learn with someone who understands its challenges and is willing to fire specific profiles for porcelain to ensure a lower failure rate.

 

Make sure your instructor is willing to walk you down this path.

You don't want to find out half way through that you are on your own.

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As designer, you would look to hire out the mold making, and focus on making prototypes. If you're extremely interested in the process of casting tableware, find a solid mold maker and learn, the prototyping and 3D modeling experience would be much more marketable, though. Throwing is a whole other ball game, and imo not worth having in a professional portfolio, especially without years of investment. Enjoy it as a hobby and an opportunity to play without consequence. Also be aware that you could spend many lifetimes with stoneware on the wheel. Expanding your access to many processes and materials will not necessarily improve the experience. Have fun!

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Many years ago, I was the only student working porcelain in a brown clay university studio. When I asked the professor about doing this, she agreed that my skill level made the choice acceptable. However, we agreed that the onus was on me to create and maintain a clean porcelain work area for table work and wedging. Together, we worked something out, but it was still difficult to avoid contamination of the porcelain with the brown clay. Throwing porcelain is akin to working with butter or cream cheese compared to most other clays. Chris is right in saying that you need to have a thorough discussion with your instructor as a first step. Enjoy!

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I was told by my instructor that we have access to porcelain, but all the completed pieces she showed me the finish wasn't perfectly white and had cracks and such, she said this was a byproduct of the firing and nothing can be done to get rid of these imperfections!

 

 

 

 

If the pieces weren't perfectly white, then you need a better porcelain. If the glaze was crazing, that can easily be fixed. If the pots themselves were cracked, then the craftsmanship was poor. All of this can be overcome.

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Tsetse, can you fly? ;)

 

Seriously, TSE,

 

You are so close to my location, I really think it's worth the effort for you to contact Paul Sacaridiz at UW Madison. He's back from his sabbatical, and is not only a fantastic teacher, but all aspects of slip casting porcelain (^6 or 10) is his love in life. I took a week long workshop out at Adamah (Dodgeville WI) last year with him on slip casting and it was fabulous, and beyond expectations in terms of learning. Another workshop isn't in the plans as far as I know, so I'd contact him directly and find out what is possible for you (either personally traveling, or school coursework.

 

His business email is sacaridiz@wisc.edu. If that doesn't work, pm me and I'll get you in touch, as he is a personal friend.

 

If you are very tidy and respectful of your plaster, you can cast in stoneware studios; I do. You just have to have wipe able space, and remove every speck and spatter. The concern from instructors is legitimate, since messy casting mold blowouts can send plaster everywhere. If big enough quantities get into someone's clay body, or if pots begin to blow up in firing, everyone will turn an accusing gaze your way whether it's your fault or not.

 

Good luck and have fun. Just writing about it makes me want to run to the studio and make some molds.

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