|
|
|
Last Updated on 03-11-12
|
Fish Fountain, Melbourne Beach, FL 2011 This project started with a concept by the client, who is an architect. She wanted something kind of modern, and came up with a drawing of what she was interested in. After discussing the details of the fish, I got started building them. The fountain is made up of three fish, which stick out from the wall at different depths. Each fish has a different color scheme and geometric design pattern, and a spout of water coming from the center. The process began by making templates for the different segments. I had to factor in the shrinkage of the clay to get the right sized templates. A slab is rolled, each segment is cut from the back of the slab, and walls are built up around the perimeter of the slab, with stabilizing walls running across the center. All of the walls are scored and a slip is applied to bond them to the slab.
Templates
Building the walls on the slabs.
The built segments as seen from the back.
After a day of drying under plastic, the edges are rounded and the surfaces are smoothed. This is done with a finger dipped in water. Once they are finished, they are allowed to dry slowly under plastic until they are hard-leather-hard, and the plastic is removed. Once bone dry they are bisque fired.
Segment before smoothing the edges.
Smoothing the edges with a wetted finger.
The finished segment.
The segments after bisque firing. Note, the geometric designs drawn on the surface and glaze color choices are written by number.
Then the designs were drawn onto the surfaces and glaze is applied. The fish were mounted on a concrete wall and the wall painted to match the surrounding deck.
Glazed but not yet fired. Original drawing by client is in the lower right of the photo.
After firing.
Mounted on concrete wall. (Note, a little dusty. They were sawing concrete that day.) You can see the spouts where the water will pour out.
The wall looked too empty once the fish were mounted, so the client had me make bubble "tiles" to fill in the gaps. The fish on the left also needed more of a tail, so I made another tail segment as well. All together the project took just over a month to complete, and the result is pretty cool. Totally custom, one-of-a-kind pool fountain.
|
|
