So the adventure begins

First stage of my project involved identifying or making a new clay body which would be suited for high firings, good enough plasticity for hand-building, with a small shrinkage percentage when high fired and its whiteness. All of this, with the capability to have additions of black stain to a percentage where it would not serve much as a flux, where the clay body would be more prompted to warp/shift during the firing and melt at higher temperatures, yet, achieving the blackest tonal black.

Storage room at the Valentine Clay ltd.

I met Alan Ault from Valentine Clay ltd at their newly built site with a new office, studios, a gallery and a massive storage room with all the goods. We discussed the availability of their clay range and the potential of making a new clay body that could best suite my new project. We talked for a while and he came to the conclusion and suggested an existing clay body they had.

Range of clay bodies available

On my way back home, with a car full of materials for my new clay body I thought my car broke down and made the decision to tow it back to Cardiff, rather than staying a night in Stoke on Trent. What a long and tiring day but very pleased to have the materials to test and produce a new clay body.

Car being towed back to Cardiff