Clay Castles
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I often work in clay, in addition to wax and bronze, and have run clay classes in the past. Now I’m making and selling clay castles. I’m more than happy to do commissions, including working to an existing design (for example, to create a stylized caricature of your house or a famous building).
Background
Largely inspired by a visit to Venice and my interest in English follies, I design and constructing clay castles, or ‘miniature follies’, in my studio. The castles are built from individual bricks that I shape from the clay (and used in the wet and dry, but not fired state) bound together with a different color of clay slip (clay ground up in water). All of the colors used are the natural colors of the clays. I then kiln fire the castles to a temperature of 1200 degrees. These scuplures are designed to be eclectic incense burners or candle holders but could also serve as unique planters, especially for bonsai. The idea of vines, other plants, or mosses growing in and out of the windows seems appropriate. I really enjoy exploring the addition of new features. Some have “extras”, like a layer of melted blue glass to create ‘water in a moat’ in one and a lid on another.
