Soft Bones

https://softbones.net/

[softbonesclay]

greetings

[softbonesclay]

WIP

[softbonesclay]

inspired by these guys

there are a couple of locations in my area where, at certain times of year, you can reliably see ~100 seals hauled out on the beach. they always seem to be having a chill and good time. watching them makes me calm and happy when I am frequently neither

[softbonesclay]

WIP

[softbonesclay]

five guys

[softbonesclay]

fun fact I have never set foot in the above vagued burger chain

certain popcultural references are basically fiction to me (got it through a podcast m'lud)

took literally years to realise the brand names in Homestuck and Welcome to Night Vale have real life referants

[softbonesclay]

five guys

[softbonesclay]

entry for the spring open exhibition at my local arts centre

[softbonesclay]

sold the dog and the rabbit! :D

pet animals are more popular than farm animals, it seems

[softbonesclay]

[softbonesclay]

entry for the spring open exhibition at my local arts centre

[softbonesclay]

really frustrated about my photography skills. I know enough to see what needs improving, but I don't know how to do it. also I see the photos as annoying busywork when they're really an art form unto themselves. I should respect the art and learn. but fml. it's so much work and i am so fucking tired

[softbonesclay]

entry for the spring open exhibition at my local arts centre

[softbonesclay]

[softbonesclay]

[softbonesclay]

btw I made this crunchy coat texture with just my fingertips :) I did scrungle it a bit more round the back with a potter's pin, but I think that was less effective than the coarser texture of pure pinching. those chisel looking marks are the imprints of my nails :)

[softbonesclay]

[softbonesclay]

snout beasts WIP

[softbonesclay]

[softbonesclay]

oxide washed, ready for stoneware firing

[softbonesclay]

Hi! I love what you do! - how does iron oxide finish work? You just buy iron oxide in powder form, dilute it in water and paint it on ? - could you maybe make a kind of masterpost with pictures of several of your sculptures? I think your work looks best (like most) when you can see several pieces in the same post - did you know there's a "potters of tumblr" community? If you want an online place where clay artists gather there is that one.

Hello! Thank you, I love your work as well! The forms are so expressive, and I'm very curious about the smoked finish.

Re: iron oxide: yes, literally what you described, onto bisque fired work. Kind of like a watercolour wash. I like the matte finish and texture effects, and that you don't have to worry about it sticking to the floor of the kiln.

Thanks for the community tip, and I'll give multi item posting a go when I can (forever behind on photo editing...)

[nolanfa-clayworks]

my bad I only just realized I'd never answered you!

Thank you! The smoked finish is really just put them in a fire. (like this) I haven't had issues with stuff breaking due to contact with flames, which I was worried about (I put them there at room temperature)

Oooh I really want to try oxides now. I'll buy some and test stuff out. Thank you!

[softbonesclay]

Oh, it's really cool that you can make the effect with just a small fire! I've seen videos of people doing the method of putting red hot pots into sawdust, and it looks way beyond my skill level. Your method is a lot more accessible.

[nolanfa-clayworks]

the red hot way is very impressive but not that hard to do; you just need a gas kiln (or barbecue thing, maybe, I think) which is admittedly not that common, but no skill other than "not touch the hot thing with your bare hands"

[softbonesclay]

admittedly I have only read about/watched videos of raku firing, and not tried it myself, but it sounds like an excellent way to break a lot of work with extreme thermal shock

the surface effects are very cool though, so I do want to experiment with the method in the future

[softbonesclay]

Hi! I love what you do! - how does iron oxide finish work? You just buy iron oxide in powder form, dilute it in water and paint it on ? - could you maybe make a kind of masterpost with pictures of several of your sculptures? I think your work looks best (like most) when you can see several pieces in the same post - did you know there's a "potters of tumblr" community? If you want an online place where clay artists gather there is that one.

Hello! Thank you, I love your work as well! The forms are so expressive, and I'm very curious about the smoked finish.

Re: iron oxide: yes, literally what you described, onto bisque fired work. Kind of like a watercolour wash. I like the matte finish and texture effects, and that you don't have to worry about it sticking to the floor of the kiln.

Thanks for the community tip, and I'll give multi item posting a go when I can (forever behind on photo editing...)

[nolanfa-clayworks]

my bad I only just realized I'd never answered you!

Thank you! The smoked finish is really just put them in a fire. (like this) I haven't had issues with stuff breaking due to contact with flames, which I was worried about (I put them there at room temperature)

Oooh I really want to try oxides now. I'll buy some and test stuff out. Thank you!

[softbonesclay]

Oh, it's really cool that you can make the effect with just a small fire! I've seen videos of people doing the method of putting red hot pots into sawdust, and it looks way beyond my skill level. Your method is a lot more accessible.

[softbonesclay]

taking these three to a show at my local arts centre

[softbonesclay]

stayed at the private view just long enough to check my stuff was there (yes, nicely grouped with other works on a similar theme). busy and loud! my autistic ass cannot be dealing with these noise levels. will return later in the week to look around properly.

[softbonesclay]

Sold two out of three items! The remaining guy is back up in my shop, along with a few other pieces.