Here you'll find pictures and video of how I created a Badger - Below you'll be taken through the following stages:



Initial ideas and research

The Tools involved

The Stages of Sculpting in clay

The Kiln 'Bisque Fire'

The Stages of Glazing

The 'Stoneware Fire'




Initial ideas are researched


Inspiration comes to me in many ways - Often during walks in the country, from photo's of wildlife, from wildlife publications, from my memories....or from a good old fashioned Google image search!

 

Once a subject is decided upon, I'll make rough sketches to help me get the dimensions correct. That's still only a 2-dimensional representation of the subject, so I'll often sketch from several angles to get a better idea of how the 3-dimensional sculpture will come 'alive'.







The Tools involved



 

When I start work on my sculptures, I use my hands to work initial shapes. Detail work requires a range of different manual tools - As you can see, they range from professional sculpting tools.....to household objects, such as a makeup brush and a fork!

 

 

 

 

 

I use a toploading Kiln, which runs off a domestic power supply. During a stoneware firing, it reaches 1220 degrees celcius, so as you can see, it has to be well insulated. It is equipped with a programming unit which controls the stepping up of temperatures during firing processes which can last 10 hours or more.







The Stages of Sculpting a Badger


1. The base and 1st leg start to take shape.

 

2. Building to the 2nd leg, adding more clay as we go. The Badger is hollow, as are most sculptures.

 

3. Building higher to the face, making every effort to keep all the proportions correct

 

4. The general form is in place. He's still rough with no detailing. During this stage, I'll often make many alteraions to the proportions of the sculpture (Unless I'm having a very good day!)

 

5. Started to give his fur, nose, claws and feet some definition. At this point, I'll often perfect proportions to the face, head and body (which can look quite brutal to an onlooker!)

 

6. All proportions are good and final definition is added - eye's, nose and ears



Bisque Firing


The sculpture is then left for several days to dry. This is crucial because there is an amount of shrinkage during firing - If one area was drier than another, it would shrink quicker which would lead to cracks.

 

Once he's bone dry, it's off to the kiln for a 'bisque fire'. This is the fist stage in firing where temperatures will reach 1000c. This phase will take around 10 hours - once it is complete and the kiln has cooled down to below 120c (another 8-10hours), I'll don my ovens mits and take him out.

 

Permanent chemical and physical changes will have occured - Physical changes include colouration and shrinkage. Chemical changes result in a much harder and more resilient article which can still be porous and this can ease the application of glazes......




The Stages of Glazing a Badger


I use a mixture of oxides and glazes to give my sculptures a permanent and hard wearing colour. The combination of products is often trial and error - this may involve several test firings until I'm happy the final sculpture is a true to life representation.

 

The badger is quite simple when it comes to this stage, as there are only a few glazes required.

 

1. He's had his manganese dioxide wash! This is a base colour which is applied and helps define the detail in his fur.

 

2. I start to work on facial colours.

 

3. Working around the nose and side of face & ears.

 

4. Added definition to the chest fur and feet. Adding definition to legs

 

5. A combination of cobalt and manganese is used to create a dark oxide for the face and nose areas which is now applied.

 

6. Finished off with a transparent glaze to his eyes, to give them a true to life look.





Stoneware Final Firing


The Badger pays his final visit to the kiln. The Stoneware firing last for 8/9hours and will reach a final temperature of 1220c. During this time in the kiln, he will glow BRIGHT orange (and warm the entire workshop up!). The process will fuse the oxides and glazes to him, whilst vitrifying his skin - which means he'll be able to withstand extreme temperatures and his eventual owner can leave him outside without worry of frost damage.

Once the target temperature is reached, and 'soaked' for half an hour, the kiln will turn itself off. The Badger must then be left to cool to below 120c before he can be removed and re-homed with somebody who will love him forever!





The Completed Badger


Badger by Lynn Hazel


Sculpted by hand in Stoneware clay, glazed and fired to be frost-proof

Size: 30cm high

 

Please note that because of the natural nature of clay, no two handmade sculptures will be identical.


To purchase similar, please visit the online shop.


If the Badger isn't featured, please Contact Lynn for prices and orders.



 

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Lynn Hazel: British Wildlife Artist