When Jeroen Bechtold presented a two-day workshop at the
Canterbury Potters Association in February 2003 he was very
critical of the plaster moulds our assembled talents had produced
for him.
On the Sunday morning, he took just over an hour to produce
a simple on-piece mould. Jim Pollard captured the process
on camera.
Photo Gallery - images
by Jim Pollard
8.59am
This is the
shape I want.
9.02am
Throwing clay on a
wheel is not what I do.
9.03am
Alan you can do it much better than I.
9.04am
Alan, it should look exactly like this.
9.05am
Lining the tray with newspaper makes it much easier
to clean up afterwards.
9.06am
Now that Alan's got it centred I can trim it into shape.
9.09am
I'm out of focus but you can see what I've done.
9.18am
A final check on the shape.
9.21am
A strip of vinyl floor covering
9.24am
Secure it with ego tape.
9.25am
Ego tape.
9.25am
Leave plenty of room between the clay shape and the
vinyl wall.
9.26am
I can still make a coil.
9.27am
You'll be sorry if you don't do this well.
9.29am It's important to seal it well on the inside
too.
9.34am Add plaster to the water a handful at a time.
9.36am Keep adding until it reaches the top of the water.
9.38am
Check it through for lumps and break them up.
9.39am
With your hand below the surface shuggle it gently to
release air bubbles.
9.40am
Pour the plaster slowly and carefully around the shape
- don't splash.
10.01am Don't let it set too hard or too soft!
10.02am This is the wheel work I like. best
10.03am The newspaper really does help cleaning up.
