Home Forums Explore Media Clay Dolphin Frieze Cast in Ciment Fondu

Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #1304476

    I wanted to create something interesting to decorate the painted tiles behind my kitchen sink. There were tiles but they had been painted over by the previous house owner. I don’t especially like modern tiles and didn’t see the point of replacing them. I had painted the tiles behind my range cooker in a Pugin design and framed them using bought plaster decorative strips with Pugin leaves and grapes. I made a mould using latex rubber with a plaster mother mould so I could re-produce the strips and save myself a fortune. I framed the area behind the sink and designed a frieze to fit within. I modelled stylised dolphins and sea horses in wet clay, and used a plaster waste mould to cast it in Ciment Fondu. I love working with clay. It is my favourite medium for sculpting. The beauty is it can be re-used over and over again. I am still creating things from clay I first used 15 years ago. There is very little wastage and even clay that has bits of plater from moulds is not wasted. I put it into a separate container and use it for sealing and making clay walls around sculptures for creating plaster moulds. I often find lots of dry clay dust and tiny balls when I’ve finished a project and it all gets swept into the clay bin to re-hydrate for future use.

    I am delighted with my frieze. It looks fabulous behind the kitchen sink. It was painted using a wood and metal metallic paint from Dulux. now discontinued, unfortunately. It is very hard-wearing and I can scrub it clean with no problems. Here is a picture of the clay frieze.

    Dolphin Frieze in Clay

    This shows the cast frieze in-situ on the painted tiles. It was glued on using bathroom tile adhesive and then painted.

    Ciment Fondu is brilliant for casting thin, strong works. I only has a couple of cracked pieces on the whole thing.

    #1398806
    hedvig
    Default

        Absolutely astounding! Beautiful work. So let’s see if I understand, first make a cement slab to fit the area, then sculpting items, building casting moulds, and casting slab and items in latex, then use latex mold to make a series of leaves, wine, grapes, and the main motif. And then Put the foliage on the large slab, And then the centerpiece, and paint white and dark respectively? I get so tempted to try, but it feel kind of a bit far from my comfort zone, but maybe one day… really incredible!

        instagram: miniporcini
        You are welcome to give feedback to my stuff c&c always interesting.

        #1398822

        The whole frieze was first modelled in wet clay, then I made a mould and finally cast it in Ciment Fondu. It was made especially to fit the space and was glued to the existing tiles. If I had removed the tiles first, I would have made the frieze  on a background panel. I hope that makes the method of production clearer for you. I am glad you like it.

        #1398829
        hedvig
        Default

            I am in awe,!

            instagram: miniporcini
            You are welcome to give feedback to my stuff c&c always interesting.

            #1475801
            Adiro
            Default

                Wow! Never seen work like this!

                the fact that the symmetry is only implied, but it’s actually not quite there, only makes my eyes wonder and stare for longer, I love it!

                #1475835

                Thanks for your positive feedback. I hand-modelled the frieze so perfect symmetry was not an option but I too like the differences between the two halves. I get as much pleasure from it today as when I first sculpted and installed it. There are pieces I have looked back on a while after and thought of things I would change or could do better but not in this case. It remains perfect in my eyes.

              Viewing 6 posts - 1 through 6 (of 6 total)
              • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.