This page has various articles and videos associated with my ceramics practice involving coloured clay and the nerikomi technique

Magazine Article on nerikomi - the process and artists

This is an article I had published for the November 2018 issue of The Journal of Australian Ceramics. It covers general information about the nerikomi process, a step by step making guide and some influences in my coloured clay journey.

To view the entire article click here

Recycling coloured clay trimmings

I have a lot of left overs from trimmings when making vessels. These get recycled in small batches. The result is inevitably a variation on a grey colour but I can use it as a base to add darker colours such as brown and black. As the vessels I make have discreet colour palettes I aim to separate trimmings so that I don’t always end up with a recycled grey outcome. Sometimes its a more green or red shade which means I can make better use of it rather than it just being a grey colour.

This is a video of how I recycle coloured clay. Play video 2.07 minutes

Choosing a colour palette for a series of vessels

Choosing colours to form a block, for the basis of a series of vessels, is sometimes a challenge. I have favourite combinations that I can easily recreate from tried and trusted colour stains and their saturation levels but trying new palettes is always exciting. Sometimes, as in this video, the colour combination will have a recycled clay component and therefore the block I make will never be able to be exactly recreated. Play video 2.47 minutes

Making a coloured clay layered block (also known as nerikomi)

This is the technique I use to make blocks of layered coloured clays. A large block, such as the one being constructed in this video, is the basis for all my nerikomi work and will usually allow me to produce several cylinder vessels and 6 - 8 cups. Play video 3.25 minutes

Slip casting a faceted mould with thin nerikomi inlays

Very thin nerikomi slices are cut out and adhered to a custom made mould. The mould was made from a form that was thrown and faceted while leatherhard. A plaster cast was then taken from the form. Play video 1 minute