The hands I sculpted, using students as models, are now fired. The kiln didnt reach the stoneware temp during firing, which should have made the ceramic go black, instead the temp reached about 1100 degrees centigrade, which gave the ceramic this chalky slate grey finish which seemed to give the pieces a loose dynamic feel, this seems to add integrity and support the idea of movement. The hands are now mounted on a solid cherry wood plinth and I shall spend the next few weeks making wrist bands out of beer cans.

The portrait head survived firing and now mounted.

To add to the collection of festival themed work, I am working on some slab vessels with silver inlay depicting crowd scenes. So I am making use of the slab roller at Chelmsford college as well as the kilns.

Looking forward to teaching a class of students on Friday how to sculpt a mini portrait head.

Managed to get to the college for a few days this week and finish modelling the clay portrait head. He has been hollowed out and is now drying ready for firing. A few students were working in the studio and got to see the process which they found facinating, they also recognised the head as one of the other students, which is a good sign. One of them commented on it being spooky as she felt like it was going to move. 

After a few weeks absents due to exhibition and teaching commitments, I finally managed to get back to Chelmsford college and sculpt a student who had kindly voluntered to be a model. Waving his arm and screaming at the invisable idol band at the make believe festival, Royce performed like a pro. Now his action is frozen in time for eternity.

At last we have all got together to introduce ourselves to the students and staff on one place at the same time. It was a great opportunity to give some background information on what sort of creative practice we follow and an idea of what we want to achieve whilst at the college. I have to say, Chelmsford college has been amazingly welcoming and accomodating. It seems everyone I meet, from an aray of departments, seem to know about the AA2A artist and they are all very excited about us being here. I think the combination of this project and the new art block has created a surge of positive energy within the college and this is fantastic for the student's motivation.

During my presentation, I asked for some students to volunteer as models for my 'Festival Goer' project. I am pleased to say that after the presentatios 6 students approached me offering to help me with the development process - being 'fesival goer' life models. Looking forward to working with them all.

I have now settled in to Chelmsford College, I have got all the necessary identification passes and checks etc and ready to get sculpting. I am hoping to be working with the students next week, getting them involved with my project is vital to the successful outcome. I shall be creating a multiple ceramic piece that represents the music festival goer. As Chelmsford holds one of the biggest festivals in the country, I thought this a relevent opportunity to explore.

My son, a regular festival goer, has been my first source of primary research. so, for the last two access sessions at Chelmsford College, I have been sculpting his forearms. For the first samples, I am working on a .75 scale from photographs. As usual, Iike alot of my other figurative works, I tend to use myself for reference too, so sorry Henry, your hands look a bit like your mothers. Not sure how to upload photos on blog so will upload to images