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In this installment of the Ceramic Arts Daily Presents video series, A. Blair Clemo shares his unconventional pottery making techniques, which combine handbuilding, press molding, and wheel throwing. The building blocks of Blair’s work are two different types of plaster press molds: first a decorative mold that yields an ornamental patty or strip of clay to build from; and second, form molds, into which clay is pressed to create a volumetric form. After first explaining his simple process for making both types of molds, Blair presents a number of projects showing the various ways he combines these press-molded elements with wheel throwing and handbuilding to create beautiful and unique functional pottery. This video will get your creative wheels rolling as you envision the possibilities with this unorthodox building system. Warning: May cause “oohs” and “ahhs!”

Contents:
Part 1:
Introduction
Chapter 1 - Molds
Chapter 2 - Making a Vase
Chapter 3 - Making a Jar

Part 2:
Chapter 4 - Coil Building with Strip Molds
Chapter 5 - Coffee Pot
Bonus - Coffee Pot Body
Bonus - Making a Saucer

Total runtime: Approximately 3 hours

Gallery

About the Author

Blair Clemo

Blair Clemo is a potter and assistant professor of craft and material studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. He earned his MFA in ceramics from the New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred University in 2010. Originally from Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Clemo spent many years out west studying ceramics and working at small production potteries in Idaho and Montana. He has been an artist in residence at The Northern Clay Center (Minneapolis, MN), the Da Wang Culture Highland (Shenzhen, China), the Zentrum für Keramik (Berlin, Germany), and The International Ceramics Studio (Kecskemét, Hungary). Clemo’s utilitarian and installation work has been included in numerous solo and group exhibitions both nationally and abroad. To learn more about Blair Clemo, please visit www.ablairclemo.com.
Unfamiliar with any terms in this video? Browse our glossary of pottery terms!
Topics: Handbuilding Techniques, Wheel Throwing Techniques
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