Sandra Black Workshop

Porcelain Vessel by Sandra Black

Light as a feather, delicate yet strong, translucent, and fine as lace describes the vessels Sandra Black has become well known for in Australia and many other countries. Sandra has spent a lifetime working in clay and has developed a unique style with her beautifully formed and carved vessels.

Porcelain Vessel by Sandra Black

Ventura County Potter's Guild hosted a two day Sandra Black workshop this past weekend, which I had the pleasure of attending. Sandra Black, from Fremantle, Australia, is known for her intricately pierced and carved porcelain vessels. Sandra said she enjoys working with porcelain clay, a fickle but seductive mistress. In recent years Sandra has begun using Southern Ice porcelain developed by Les Blakebrough in Australia.

Sandra Black Pouring Plaster Mold

The first day of the workshop Sandra demonstrated how she makes plaster molds to slip cast one piece drop out vessels for carving. Sandra uses a combination of plaster and paper plaster to form the molds. Sandra learned paper plaster mold making from Grace Nickel, a ceramic artist from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Sandra attributes the invention of the paper plaster mold making to Trudy Ellen Golley, Head of Ceramics at Red Deer College in Alberta, Canada. Paper plaster strengthens and reduces the weight of the mold allowing larger slip cast forms to be built and emptied with ease.

Porcelain Vessel by Sandra Black

Sandra showed us her techniques of slip casting, carving, and piercing porcelain vessels the second day of the workshop. Sandra uses several different tools to carve her highly decorative vessels such as a surgical knife, dremel tool, dental drills and many more.

Sandra Black Throwing Vase Form

Although I can't see myself spending hours piercing and carving vessels as Sandra does, I already have several ideas to utilize and adapt many of the techniques I learned at Sandra's informative workshop.

Porcelain Vessels by Sandra Black
(bracelet to show perspective)