Creating architectural ceramics is so satisfying. Especially for beginners and miniature buildings. There is no limit when it is scaled down.
A favourite starting point for construction is rolling clay using a rolling pin and guider sticks to keep the clay even as you roll.
(Top tips for miniatures if you don't have special equipment - 2 pencils for guides and a thick pen to roll small pieces of clay evenly. )
Artist inspiration Antoni Gaudi 's Sagrada Familia in Barcelona Spain.
Ceramic Artist
Architectural Ceramic Tower Sculpture, by Arie Bouter.
Forming tiles as part of your creative construction gives a great foundation and wall possiblity. Above we can see relief structures and sculpted figures giving a visual depth and placement for the walls. It keeps the sizing and perspective in harmony.
There are many details in the Sagrada Familia to pick up on too. Gaudi's work had endless sculptural insights inspired from natural forms and translated into architecture.
Above we can see the progression of the hand rolled tile by Rachel Sorley from Ceramic Friday sessions. Using the natural fauna for the impression first touch and then adding inspiration of flowers as detailed relief construction.
Beautiful balance of visual depth in this piece. The piece is then dried out and bisque fired 1000°C.
Rachel chose manganese and red oxides to add depth to the fired ceramic details then used Velvet underglaze to bring out the petals
Here it is fired to 1080°C Earthenware firing the lunch orange of set by the manganese base.
It is always a good idea to plan ahead with your ceramic constructions to the glazing stage. Have a think about what you want as the final effect. I would always advise making text tiles or pieces of sculpture to try out the glazing materials and view the results before committing your main make to the kiln. Once it is glazed it is tricky to change the finish but there is always spray paint if you are not a purist ceramic artist!
Happy making 😊
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