Design for the Soft Surface video now available from Ceramic Arts Daily

Thrilled to have my video Design for the Soft Surface now available from Ceramic Arts Daily. I had a great time last year filming the video in Columbus, OH. I can't say enough about the Ceramic Arts Daily crew and how easy they were to work with. Visit ceramicartsdaily.org for more information, or to purchase the video. 

                                                                                                                                                 

Throwing, Handbuilding and Slip Decorating In this edition of the Ceramic Arts Daily Presents video series, Ben Carter shares his methods for integrating surface design with altered wheel-thrown and hand built pottery. Referencing pillows, tufted furniture, and quilts, Carter imbues his pots with softness in a variety of ways—from altering freshly thrown pots to create volume, to stretching soft clay into foam slump molds. Using this overfilled aesthetic as a metaphor for the comfort of southern hospitality, he complements the soft forms with slip and underglaze decoration using sgraffito, slip trailing, and painting techniques. Runtime: 3 hours – 2 disc set

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Three videos in one Ben’s techniques can be sorted into three distinct areas—throwing, altering and decorating. In each area, Ben provides tips and techniques to be successful by showing you in easy-to-follow step-by-step sequences how to throw or handbuild forms, how to alter them, and how to decorate them with slips and underglazes.

Clear instructions If you’re just getting started or struggling with throwing or handbuilding, Ben’s instructions for throwing and trimming a cylinder and bowl are among the best ever recorded. His explanations of each pull and every detail will help you learn or improve your throwing. After forming a cylinder, bowl and ice tea pitcher, he alters them with simple yet elegant techniques that breathe more life into already interesting forms.

Handbuilding with foam forms For adding volume to flat handbuilt pieces, Ben demonstrates his technique incorporating rigid foam for a mold. He begins the technique by showing you how to create a form then how to prepare and alter the clay and finally how to finish the details that will set the piece apart. You’ll be able to create unique forms that result in soft pillowy surfaces of your own design using this technique.

Surface Decoration  Ben is well known for his surface treatment and he demonstrates each step of the process so you can get started right away on your surfaces. He works with earthenware at the low end of the firing range, but the colored underglaze technique can be used at any temperature range with a suitable transparent overglaze for the range you work in.