I mentioned the forgotten tape measure last installment, and here you can see how that turns out!  I spent a couple hours today redoing so the curves are in the right place and the pelvic tilt is more in line with what I planned, but that's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.  Its a lot trickier 'adjusting' this coiled style of sculpture than it would be on a regular clay sculpture because you can't just add or remove clay.  I'm finding the only real way to do it is either cut along a coil line and add or remove a coil (or motif!)  between the sections, OR thin it down from the inside to the point where almost all that's left is the front coil texture.  Once its thinned down, I can push the individual coils around a bit, either working them out or in as needed, then carefully add material back in behind to support the coils.  

Its a bit of a pain to do, but it can be done!  Depending on what needs to be done, one way will work better than the other.  This clay is very 'short' when it sits for a bit, but its very forgiving in firing which means I can get away with thicker areas and a bit of laxity in the construction methods.  A BIT of laxity, but I still have to be careful!  The clay is still wet at this point, but it gets STIFF when it sits so I can't manipulate it very well without it cracking.  Then if its NOT stiff, its squishy which means I have to watch it so I don't mash all the details!  


CHALLENGING!  :)

Here's the latest load out of the kiln, my part of it anyway!  The big brown oval in the background has been hanging since mid-November, it was a trial for a custom order.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!  The actual custom order was an inch or so wider (front to back in this view) and had a terra sigillata and oxides finish that came out a nice muted orangy brown.  I'm going to be listing it on Etsy soon, its about 14 inches long, nice footed pot with a matching tray.  We'll see, I might be hanging onto it for a while though!  I'll be pushing it as an herb pot or a succulent pot, but it'd work for bonsai if someone needed a DEEP LONG pot!

There are two smaller oval pots in there, a couple stacks of small plates, a bunch of prep/dipping bowls made the same way as my kusamono planters but without the hole, and a set of little plate/trays that can be used lots of different ways!

Moving along!  She's starting to get some height now, hip on one side!  Somehow I managed to forget my tape so I'll have to figure out exactly where the directional change goes on the hip later, but the mass of clay is building.  I'm much happier with it now that I've redone some!  Best of all I've figured out a relatively easy way to handle it if I need to re position again.  Turns out the 'easy' way I was thinking before... isn't!  I had to totally rework one leg, but it went back together easier than I was dreading.

Ok, I'm a bit behind (groan) on posting these!  Butt she's starting to come together!  I'm happy with the front view, but not totally sure about the back side... I might have to rework a bit.  Something about not being able to see it in the mirror clearly and getting funny looks every time I walk around staring at butts...  LOL Oh well, I'll get it!