This stoneware fired torso is suitable for display in the garden or indoors.

Stoneware torso, approx. 85cm including base

The clay is impressed with ferns, lace and other marks while still soft. After the bisque firing, glazes and oxides are brushed and poured on. It is then fired to around 1240°C. I have an idea of how the glazes will colour, but the end result is serendipitous as I cannot predict exactly how the glazes react with each other. Opening the kiln is always a hold my breath moment – joy or back to the drawing board?

The plinth is wood, rescued by scavenging in skips, construction jobs and reclaim yards. It has been sanded, charred, polished and embellished with metal additions.

Hopefully it will be on display during our Bucks Open Studios event in June. Click on Exhibitions and Events for further details.

Another torso has recently been completed – height is approximately 70cm. It is made with crank clay using a plaster mould. This is the first cast from the original mould and has been glazed with Copper Oxide and Turquoise, similar to the bowls. It was fired to 1240°C in an electric kiln.

Sculpture in crank clay, approx. 70cm high

The plan now is to make a cast of this piece, further refine the shape and then create other sculptures based on this one. We have a couple of exhibitions coming up that have requested outdoor sculptures so we are trying to make some bigger pieces.

In this case we fired two torsos but sadly on the second one the glazes ran and took part of the bottom away. Although not exactly buried, it is now languishing – decoratively – in the garden flower bed!