Progress Pics

A collection of images of work under construction, prior to firing.

"Crash-test Colin"   (2025) 

White stoneware paper clay (Blackwattle).  

Handbuilt. Shortened neck for balance and to avoid constructing torso for stability.  Mouth pocket added and carved out mouth and teeth.

Cranium closed when mouth and eyes done.  Marker discs applied to forehead and temples.  

Glazed greenware eyes and discs with underglaze then clear glaze.  Single-fired to 1100C.

Approx. dimensions:    30cm H x 20cm W x 25cm D

June 2025

"Princess"  or "Elegance"  (2025) 

White stoneware paper clay (Blackwattle).  

Hand-built, slab-built, hollow neck and shoulders, face formed, hollow cranium. New minimalist approach to hair detail as integrated scalp not a veneer.  Attention to lips, nose, eyes and skin texture.  Contemplated banana tiara but decided on polymer clay banana drop ear-rings.  Post-firing a set of pearl earrings and necklace was clearly appropriate!  Single fired to Cone 2 as not functional and to preserve the whiteness of the clay body.

Approx. dimensions:    40cm H x 35cm W x 35cm D

April 2025

"Virtual Reality"   (2025) 

White stoneware paper clay (Blackwattle).  Hand-built, slab-formed, hollow head.  Internal pouch for mouth and tongue.

Polymer clay moulds used to press mould bolt heads.  Fired to Cone 2.  Metallic finish contemplated then decided to glaze fire Mayco Ironstone.  Antique Bronze might have been better.

Approx. dimensions:   30cm H x 15cm W x 20cm D 

April 2025 - July 2025

"Helga "  (2025) 

White stoneware paper clay (Blackwattle).  

Hand-built, hollow neck and joined single piece head, decorative base formed around support.  'Art deco' theme.

Dome helmet plan changed to flat top with wings.  Plan for metallic glaze or surface treatment.  Single-fired to Cone 2.

Approx. dimensions:    45cm H x 30cm W x  20cm D

April 2025 - July 2025

Post firing used Dark Metallic Gold acrylic to cap and verdigris base and patina finish to base.

"Medusa Mary"   (2025) 

White stoneware paper clay (Blackwattle).  

Hand-built over hump mould, mask on clay panel.  Mounting holes to back.

Added some serpents, and leaves.  Underglazes blended on face on greeware and clear glazes to moist surfaces like eyes and lips.  Will single fire and finish with acrylics to refine colours and then clear sealant.

Approx. dimensions:    30cm H x 20cm W x  8cm D

 April - June 2025

"Tariffs"   (2025) 

White stoneware paper clay (Blackwattle).  

Hand-built.  Converted one of set of fists (too big for the dawg collection) to a 'bird'.

Underglazes and glaze to greenware and single-fired.

Approx. dimensions:    25cm H x 15cm W x  15cm D

 April 2025

"They're eating the dawgs!"   (2024) 

White stoneware paper clay (Blackwattle).  

Hollow neck and shoulders, face formed, collar & tie,  hollow hair added and developed.

Intention for dawg protruding from mouth, changed to a two or more part piece with separate 'dawg' and hands.

Dawg completed and underglazes and glazes to moist areas.  Single fired.  Acrylic surface treatments.

Underglazes and full glazes applied to greenware bust and single fired. Acrylic touch ups.

Fists with completed (large, then smaller pair) underglazes and clear glazes, stainless steel cutlery.  Unsatisfactory colouration.  Disgarded.

Approx. total dimensions: Figure: 45cm H  x 35cm x W 35cm D  Dawg:  450cm W x 20cm D x 15cm H    

Total foot print: 350mm Wide x 600mm Deep x 450mm High

November 2024 - April 2025

Two piece installation – bust and dog & accessories

Inspired by the 2024 US Presidential Debate and the comments about Haitian migrants in Springfield.   “They’re eating the dawgs.  The people that came in, they’re eating the cats. They’re eating – they are eating the pets of the people that live there."

SORPC 50th Anniversary Exhibition

Aussie Icons - "Solo Man"  (2024) 

White stoneware paper clay (ungrogged from Blackwattle).  

Completed hollow torso, closed over neck, added singlet details before hardening up.

Completed separate detailed head which was subsequently out of proportion.  Turned into a bust and built up new head from torso.

Completed face, left cranium open as support structure, added hair, sideburns, straps.  

Formed helmet, adjusted for fit then finally fitted. 

Commenced second part, canoe.  After repeated efforts to make a good plaster mold and cast a can and ring-pull, decided on hand built ring-pull for canoe nose.

Approx. total dimensions 70cm H  40cm W  60cm D    

August - September 2024 - March 2025

A reflection on ‘famous’ (if fictional) Australians. 

Solo Man is the long lasting marketing campaign which began in the 1970s after the release of the drink. The most recent Solo Man advertisement was released in 2018. With a history of almost 50 years, the Solo Man marketing campaign tracks an Australian man partaking in adventurous and extreme sport to earn a drink. 

The first "Solo Man" character was acted by Michael Ace, a former PE Teacher at St Paul's Catholic college in Manly, on Sydney's Northern beaches. Ace had a second career as a model and starred as Solo Man in the 70s and 80s. orts in order to ‘earn’ the drink. He died in 2017.  The Solo Man was characterized by a 1970s moustache, sideburns and partial mullet.

SORPC 50th Anniversary Exhibition

America's Sweethearts (2024) 

White stoneware paper clay (ungrogged from Blackwattle).  

Double bowl form.

Approx.    cm H.

August 2024

Inspiration: Netflix 'America's Sweethearts' - the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

M.A.G.A. or "The Resurrection" or "The Hand of God"  or "Defiance" (2024) 

White stoneware paper clay (Blackwattle).  Two part process, hollow coat and sleeve and hollow hand.  Subsequently joined.

Completed a maquette with striped jacket sleeve.  Decided on an American flag circular base under a traditional blue jacket sleeve & gold cuff links.

Inspirational photo.  Changed the course of history.

July 2024

Les Boys I  (2024) 

White earthernware paper clay (Blackwattle).

Rolled textures.  Unglazed.  Tests for post-firing stains.

Single fired to approx 1100C.  

Approx. 16cm - 22cm H.

May 2024

FIFO - "Fit In or F.. Off"  (2024) 

White earthernware paper clay (Blackwattle).

Carved sole and added toe-cap, tongue and assorted boot parts. Cut lace holes and inserted stitching.

Underglazed as  greenware, with clear glaze over some parts to give raw suede and leather/vinyl appearance. 

Single fired to approx 1100C.  Non-ceramic laces added.  Completed boot showing shrinkage from initial sole cut-out in wet clay!

Approx. 20cm L and 20cm H.

May 2024

Party pie platter (with creepy-crawly surprise underneath) (2024) 

White earthernware paper clay (Blackwattle).

Slump moulded platter in wooden salad bowl.   Ribbed to thin edges.  Turned out and 'roach surprise' added beneath rim whilst hard leatherhard.

Majolica glaze applied to damp greenware.   Roach beneath underglazed then clear-glazed.

Pies built in cupcake mould.  Carved and meat added.  Sauce blobs.  Underglazes and clear glazes applied whilst damp leatherhard.  

Crushed black stone 'cracked pepper' fragments clear-glazed onto  top. 

Glazed platter & pies scored, slipped and joined whilst still damp. 

Single fired to approx 1100C.

Approx. 30cm W.

May 2024

Creepy-crawly ware - Snack platter and Test plate (2024) 

White stoneware paper clay (Blackwattle).

Slump moulded in disposable plastic platter.   Added insect bodies.  Majolica top glaze to greenware.  Carved legs sgraffito style through white glaze.

Underglazes to bodies and limbs (as pictured).  Clear glaze over insect parts.  Single fired. 1100 C.

Images of prior test plate with a variety of critters also shown.

Approx. 30cm W.

May 2024

"The CEO" (2024) 

SES Student earthenware stoneware clay (Walkers).   Studio Open Day.

Central neck cylinder, twin slabs to torso, face built up with slab coils over one day.

SES eyes and lids.  Horns cut back and a tail added for interest the following day.   Quite a groggy clay despite semi burnishing.

Underglazes to eyes, tested on SES beforehand.  Will be applied to greenware before single firing. 

Considering non-ceramic detailing to tail or entire bust.  

Approx. 40cm H.

May 2024

"Monkey Business" (2024) 

White stoneware paper clay (ungrogged from Blackwattle).  

Constructed head separately, with two hemispheres and trapped air technique, supported in a plastic sling.  

Twin slab torso with neck, to support head.  Added shirt, collar, pocket, buttons and tie whilst still damp, to ensure adhesion and uniform shrinkage.

Stoneware eyeballs and complete face prior to connection.  Various head attitudes and poses achievable prior to joining securely.   Neck vented through torso and head vented separately with hole added in ears.

Test glazes for eyes and hair prior to application.

Underglazes to eyes, and perhaps hair.  Crystal glaze to tie for variegated pattern.  Will be applied to greenware before single firing. 

Considering non-ceramic coating to shirt.  

Approx. 45cm H.

May 2024

Georgie (2023) 

White grogged stoneware paper clay.  Completed hollow torso and neck without central support (trying new structural technique).  Commenced lower face.

Formed rest of face, open mouth with mouth cavity behind, oversized character face and added trim on summer dress.

Porcelain eyeballs,  waves of hollow hair over hollow head cavity. 

Various underglazes to eyes and inner lids, crystal glaze to dress to achieve summer pattern.   Applied to greenware before single firing.

Single fired to approx. 1100 C.  Grogged clay has left a rougher final texture and more beige colour than desired. 

Approx. 48cm H.

December 2023

Turkey Terrine (2023) 

White earthenware paper clay.  Completed hollow feet and talons with central weight-bearing cylinders, then added slump formed bowl.

Wings added as handles and tail as a feature.   Sgraffito carved feather elements.  Slow dried under plastic.

Ferric oxide washes to grooves, brushed white majolica glaze to bowl, various underglazes to feet and feathers.  Applied to greenware before single firing. 

Approx. 20cm H, 32cm W and 35cm D.

October November 2023

Der Pestarzt  or "The Birdman of Attadale"  (2023) 

Stoneware SES clay.  Completed neck and torso to chin.  Added bird-mask (a bit bigger and heavier than planned).  

Added eyes, ears, straps and accessories to mask, hair at back to balance.  Commenced hat brim.

Approx. 40cm H, 30cm W and 35cm D.

August 2023

Ziggy (2023) 

White earthenware paper clay.  Finished the makeup, eyes and hair with underglazes applied to greenware.  Hopefully a clear overglaze will brighten the zig-zag cosmetic flash. Approx. 42cm.

July 2023

"You want fries with that?" (2023) 

White earthenware paper clay, leatherhard stage. Test assembly.  Then glazed prior to final assembly.  

Getting those sesame seeds on the bun after underglaze treatment!

July 2023

Eggie Weggie Bowl (2023) 

White earthenware paper clay, leatherhard.  Terracotta slip application to 'bricks'.   Glazes and glazes to greenware prior to single firing.

May 2023

Le Baiser (The Kiss) (2023) 

Trying to get underglaze treatment to match the original Picasso brush strokes. 

Test mouth (2023) 

Underglaze treatment to dry clay using blended colours.  Light clear overglaze applied on tongue and lip borders. Post firing appearance with more intense colour than expected.   

Robbie Robot (2023) 

Underglazes being applied to greenware, then clear a overglaze. 

Leatherhard, testing head orientation on the base and neck.  Top of head in background. 

Barbie Vase (2023) 

Soft leatherhard stage, original base, prior to application of 'skirt'.  Drying out.

Brian Beanie (2023) 

Core neck and head, prior to insertion of porcelain eyes and he beanie.

Nero (2022) 

Under construction

Mike Minotaur (2022) 

Under construction

Eric Epiphany (2022) 

Raku clay body then head.