MEETING REPORT J

At the February General Meeting of the Guild Mas Fumo demonstrated the
making of his unique lidded sculptural pieces. Mas took us step by roe
through the whole process, starting with a ball of clay, forming a

pot and showing and explaining his techniques -- including the way apt closed
the form. He paddled the piece closed, striking it at an angle with a
Japanese rice paddle made of bamboo. This action gave a lovely swirl inside
the pot at the closing point. The pot was then set aside to stiffen up and
Mas had another sphere of clay ready for this next step and each of the
following ones.

This hardened piece was shaped by squeezing, pees and rolling on a
board, the air inside "acting as a third hard" in this process, The clay is
allowed to harden some more and Mas had another firmer piece and he pro-
ceeded to refine the shape and further define the lines of it. Again he used
the paddle as a beater or he rolled the paddle over the surface to press it
into the shape wanted. When an accident happens to the piece, he uses it as
part. of the design, a thumb hole, an indentation, etc. Stroking his thumb
across the surface he smoothed areas and he could also feel the shape and
correct any faulty lines. The base was further refined at this stage.

Again it was set aside to harden enough so he could apply a thick porcelain
slip. He spreads this on with his fingers to the desired area, then patting
the slip to create a lovely texture, When this slip hardens he lightly
burnishes the high points of this texture with a piece of onyx. Sometimes
he acids texture by using a tool made from a bumdle of pointed skewers held
together with an elastic (the bumdle of points can be pushed into the clay

for a fine even texture,
A

The line where the lid is to be cut is made with a
tool of crossed skewers (like a skirt marker) The
cross piece of skewer is firmly attached to the
vertical piece but can slide up and down to where
it is needed. The skewer makes a fine line and if
it is not correct it can weasily rubbed out. He
deepens the line with a draftsman's ruler. ‘The
cut is made with a palette knife that he has
ground daw to this shape

and with fine cutting edges. The narrowed part
of the blade enables him to cut rounded notches to
help lock the lid in place.

Mas bipmes his pieces. before on u FED tele wl ne me pot comes from the kiln

he will set it on a brick and silver nitrate solution
(10 gms. silver nitrate to 250 at of water) and then directly into sawdust
for reduction, The silver nitrate gives a beautiful brass colour where thick
and iridescent colours where thin, a lovely contrast to the smoke blackened
clays

Thank you Mas for an inspiring workshop. We enjoyed listening to your philos-
ophy of your work and admired your care for shape and detail.

You may see pieces of Mas' work in the Guild's Gallery.

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