Dragon Platter #1

A dragon in high bas relief on a 22" platter form. The clay body is one formulated primarily for raku, heavy with grog, but I'll fire it to cone 6. (For those unfamiliar with the cone designation, it's a term describing the working temperature of the kiln firing. The stoneware and porcelain pottery I produce is fired to a hotter cone 10, whereas the cooler bisque firing  prior to glazing is cone 06.)

Here's the platter form itself on the wheel, using a bit more than 25 pounds.

The rough dragon blocked in...

More progress on the dragon. I've broken up the rim with some ornamental flourishes to give an otherwise boring, circular rim some interest in strategic places to balance out the whole composition.

After the block in, the whole sculpting process is one of simply developing and refining the forms and detail. That's the part that takes the most time, depending on how refined and detailed I choose to make the piece.

I'll post more progress soon.