Abstract Purple Landscape (6 August 2009)

(6cm x 6cm) I mounted this abstract panel (which bears a passing resemblance to Munch's The Scream) in a triple fold aperture card for my cousin Hannah's wedding. The original plan was to use one of the purple landscape panels, but this turned out so well that I decided to use this.

Once I had selected all the useful bits for the other panels (see below), I gathered up the scrap clay and pressed it together. Then on a whim I decided to see what would happen if I rolled out the scrap clay, and this was the amazing result! The actual rolled out panel was quite large (at least twice the size it is now), and so I used the aperture to select the best pattern and trimmed a square to fit the card aperture. After 4 coats of matt varnish, the piece was finished and I stuck it into the aperture using double sided sticky tape. Although the panel is quite large, because it is only 1-2mm thick, it is relatively light and works well in a card. I will be working more with this technique in the very near future.

Layered Landscape No 1 (1 August 2009)

(2" x 1")

I'm very excited by this piece. I discovered this effect by accident when conditioning clay in the pasta machine. When folding clay back on itself, if the edges are not aligned, it creates this layered effect whilst keeping the clay at 1-2mm depth.

The next trick will be to create layers with different shades to give perspective. I will try hand-rolling different layers. Watch this space!

Abstract Landscape No 2 (1 August 2009)

(3" x 1.5")

I started this as a round panel of pale blue marbled clay. I then placed the red marbled piece of clay on top, and rolled both pieces through the pasta machine.

This pressed the added clay into the main piece and distorted both elements to create an interesting pattern. I cut out a circle using a cutter and inlayed a piece of the marbled red clay to complete the look.

Abstract Landscape No 1 (1 August 2009)

(1" x 1")
In creating this piece, I experimented with creating abstract landscapes with a marbling and inlay technique. This is very much a first attempt, and I'm quite pleased with the way the striated lines turned out on the closest element.

The picture has been built up in mosaic fashion, rather than layering, so it is only 2mm thick. For each element, I have mixed at least two contrasting colours together, and then stopped when I had arrived at an interesting pattern.