Week 5 1/11/2021
Evaluating different materials
My aim is to find materials that work for transmitted and reflected light, which don't cost too much or take me too long to make.
Slip cast bone china
I am very happy with this. It was fired at 1260c This makes the bone china become transparent, it 'vitrifies'. If it was a bit thinner it would be even better!
Having this visual reference will enable me to simulate bone china in the 3D renders - visuals in the future will be better/more accurate.
Now you can see the wood because of the pulp!
Glazing tests
I have glazed these with pre-mixed standard glazes. Once fired, the grey on the Fox Talbot light form will be glossy black. The red will be shiny black, the light green will be glossy green.
I removed the glaze from the high points with a sponge, in the hope of creating a sense of depth in the images.
Metal casting test
This did not go as planned. The expensive temperature-resistant silicon reacted to the 3D printed mould resin, so the surface of the mould did not cure properly and remained sticky and pitted.
This metal jewellery-quality Pewter is costly and is the only metal that I can cast at Bath Spa.
Conclusions so far
Scores
Tea cup, 3D printing resin mix 9/10 - for one off gallery objects. Just needs to be thicker.
Fox Talbot, Cold-cast resin 8/10 - I saw just how well it can work on large sculptures at Hauser & Wirth this week (Thomas J Price ). I need to find out how they were made.
Woods, Bone china 10/10 - the next slip plaster mould test should be good!
Fox Talbot, Metal casting would be 10/10 if I could afford to outsource it to a foundry. I would like to find out costs and maybe I could get someone else to fund it!
Conjoined lens, 3D printed clear resin 8/10 good for making lens maquettes.
Fox Talbot, Glazes. I suspect this will be a good option for me to use. Next week will show me some results. I also have a glaze mixing induction.
Other tests I've started
The left image is a mould with a clear resin conjoined lens in it. De-moulding is tonight!
The middle image is a positive mould to make a plaster slip mould from.
The right image is a snap of the inside of the 3D printed mould the middle one was made from.