How to make a chain link of clay

Scetch. Draw patterns of all the parts you need and cut the patterns out.

Cut out a lump of clay, soften it between your hands. If you have to add more clay, make sure you don't leave any air in it.

Roll out the clay using a plastic pipe or a rolling pin. Use measuring sticks as shown in the picture below to ensure the clay has the same diameter from one end to the other.

Cut the pieces off using the pattern and a knife. If there are any marks on the clay, press them lightly on the clay (see the pictures below).

When making cylinders, you have to attach the ends together. Use the basic attaching method - criss-cross both surfaces with a knife, add slip over criss-crossings and press the surfaces together. Smooth the edges with a wooden tool or your finger.

 Before attaching the cylinders to the layers, leave all parts to dry and harden a little to keep their shape.

You can make the caps on the link using a plastic mold or just making the right shape with your hands.

Check the size of the cap and attach them. Use the same method as before.

Leave clay to dry and harden again before finishing it. You can scratch and burnish the clay with a spoon once the clay is hard enough.

Fire the clay and when it is fired once you can glaze it. I used a matt dark golden glazing, but something went wrong and it came out very yellowish and shiny. It had also twisted in the second firing.

I put some more glazing on cracked/twisted places an decided to try to re-fire it.

The final piece

How to make a human mold

Making a human mold using tin foil or clingfilm and sticky tape - very simplified:

1st step: Ask model to take a stabile pose and wrap her/him in clingfilm or tin foil. If you are using tin foil you have to ensure the structure with pieces of sticky tape. You can make the mold very detailed if you keep burnishing the foil.

2nd step (tin foil skip this step): Wrap your model in sticky tape. Make sure there is tape everywhere and attach the tape in different directions to make strong structure. Use lots of tape in joint places.

3rd step: Cut the wrapping carefully off in the center line on both flanks. You can try to push your finger inside before cutting to make sure not to cut skin or clothes. Once the model is out, attach the sides back.

4th step: Make the head. Use the same methods but leave mouth/nose area open. If using tape, use tiny little pieces of tape to save all the details in the face.

The head above is made of wire netting.

5th step: Once the head has been done, attach it to the body carefully. Make sure the neck is strong enough.

Inspiration board: A Chain Link

The link between England and Finland. That's the thing. How I love the sound of the rolling chain and sand between tires and tarmac. The wind blowing on my face, the smell of the sea. Breath. Alone in the nature. That's my home here, and the feelings are just same when cycling in Finland. I brought my bike here to explore, to feel safe, to bring something personal with me. I found Dartmoor on my bike, and new friends. I had a race with homesickness - I won.

Tried to find good pictures of an old rough chain. Something rough enough to look good when made of clay. The pictures above are of my bike chain - pictures below are from the Internet wonderland.

How to make a plaster mold of a hand

I've been struggling with the all 'my world' thing. Too much thinking and no doing. I got trapped with my thoughts, tried to develop my ideas but didn't seem to find anything touchable in them. I'm too limited with my ideas as I've been doing photographing and only photographing art recently. Well, last 4 years. Just a little bit painting and that's it.

So.

Something needed to be done.


I transformed me ideas to a sentence. It reminds me of a very important and close person in my life. It is something I need to remember. I wrote it on a piece of paper and closed the paper in my fist.

The things you need to make a plaster mold:

• water
• 2 bowls or buckets
• a whisk
• a bag of alginate
• pottery plaster

Mix alginate and water in a bowl following the instructions on the bag.

Place your had into the bowl. Make sure the hand doesn't touch the bowl and move your hand gently - air bubbles in your fist and around it will come out.

Wait until the mass feels rubbery and tight and pull your hand out carefully. The mass may rip a little bit.

 Mix pottery plaster and water and pour it into the mold. Shake the bowl to ensure it is everywhere in the mold and all air bubbles come out. Wait until it is hard.

Take the mass out of the bowl and rip it open carefully.

 You have a fully detailed copy of your hand. There is a piece of paper hided in the plaster in the hand on the left.

Inspiration board: Ceramic spheres

I lost the web page I found these amazing ceramic spheres - it said they are "matt smoked" - what does it mean? I love the natural gray shades on them.

 I'd love to roll this one on my hands. The texture looks amazing.

 

...so soft and neat...