building Ceramic murals
The above design was created to represent what the mural would look like and what colours would be used. The blue and black background would be mosaiced with bought tiles.
Above; the planning drawing drawn to scale and made with a grid so that the size of each individual ceramic peice could be measured and made correctly.
This grid ensured that the mosaic fitted onto the backing board.
These photos show the process of making the dragon mural at Caulfield Grammar School in 2011.
The dragons head had to be a certain size, so when the students began making it we kept checking that it was the right height and width and that it matched the shape of the design in the original drawing. The dragon's head was made by a group of five students and myself. I intermittently showed them techniques for joining and making.
The head was then cut into four pieces so that it would fit into the kiln and also to prevent it cracking. As it dried slowly, these peices were separated from each other so that their edges could be smoothed. They were also eventually lifted and turned over so that the back of each peice could be either reinforced, have extra clay removed and be checked for potential cracks.
Above: The dragon's head and the scales were laid out to dry sin the way they might appear in the mural. Students could see how the dragon would look when it was on the wall.
All of the parts have been painted with liquid underglazes. The colours will be brighter after the work is glazed.
The darker colours of red and blue wereto create shadows in the work to help it look three dimensional on the wall.
Smaller scales were made for the tail of the dragon and shapes were rolled out and decorated with skewers.
The finished dragon!
dimensions 180 X 260 cm on two blueboards. 11 days work.
 |
| here is the original dragon design that indicates the colours and the shape of the mural. |
The above design was created to represent what the mural would look like and what colours would be used. The blue and black background would be mosaiced with bought tiles.
 |
| dragon is drawn to scale so that the individual ceramic parts would be the correct size. |
Above; the planning drawing drawn to scale and made with a grid so that the size of each individual ceramic peice could be measured and made correctly.
This grid ensured that the mosaic fitted onto the backing board.
 |
| head of dragon being made |
These photos show the process of making the dragon mural at Caulfield Grammar School in 2011.
The dragons head had to be a certain size, so when the students began making it we kept checking that it was the right height and width and that it matched the shape of the design in the original drawing. The dragon's head was made by a group of five students and myself. I intermittently showed them techniques for joining and making.
The head was then cut into four pieces so that it would fit into the kiln and also to prevent it cracking. As it dried slowly, these peices were separated from each other so that their edges could be smoothed. They were also eventually lifted and turned over so that the back of each peice could be either reinforced, have extra clay removed and be checked for potential cracks.
 |
| greenware head and scales laid out so that students could see how the dragon design would work. |
Above: The dragon's head and the scales were laid out to dry sin the way they might appear in the mural. Students could see how the dragon would look when it was on the wall.
All of the parts have been painted with liquid underglazes. The colours will be brighter after the work is glazed.
The darker colours of red and blue wereto create shadows in the work to help it look three dimensional on the wall.
 |
| making the tail |
Smaller scales were made for the tail of the dragon and shapes were rolled out and decorated with skewers.
The finished dragon!
dimensions 180 X 260 cm on two blueboards. 11 days work.
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