Slab Building

I do have some experience in creating slab built ceramics, unfortunately the piece I made in response to this task did not survive, so I have no images of this task to demonstrate here. However slab building techniques were utilised in two other projects, Stand and Deliver & Box of Secrets tasks. Below are examples of work I have made using slabs as part of the construction process.

Slabs are a fantastic way to construct ceramic forms, below you can see examples of using a slab over a form to create a specific shape. The cone of clay was achieved using a polystyrene cone as a former, the clay is wrapped around the former to create the shape. Flat slabs are used to slump both over into different forms to create shallow bowl like vessels. 

Managing the moisture content in the clay body is a crucial aspect to understanding the technicalities  involved in slab construction. Slab vessels, boxes and sculptures that are constructed without the use of additional former support must be firm enough to hold their shape and withstand being physically manipulated without slumping or losing their intended form. 

Slab building hasn’t been an area of ceramic construction that I have utilised regularly, I think that this primarily due to the fact that it is generally used to create more angular, architectural type ceramic works. I have enjoyed constructing with soft slabs, however this has generally in the creation of cylindrical vessels such as vases and mugs. 

I am interested in using slabs to create spherical forms in conjunction with plaster formers, as slab formed sculptures are constructed from larger, single pieces of clay, they can offer good foundational strength to larger scale ceramics. Slabs can also be utilised to create internal support systems to offer strength and rigidity to wide and large ceramic pieces,