Information about ceramic reliefs

I carve the original design into hardened clay with a kitchen knife and various carving tools. This original relief is then cast in plaster, producing a plaster mould with which I can make editions of 50 copies of each design. For each new copy, a slab of soft clay is pressed into the mould to get an almost identical relief. This relief is then finished by hand, carefully dried, fired for a first time, hand glazed and fired again at a higher temperature close to stoneware. The glazing is a very important part of the process. For every design I need a few (or more…) glazing trials before I get the result I am happy with. I use a variety of ready made glazes available from pottery supplies which I then mix to obtain a certain shade or quality of colour. All ceramics are signed and have an edition number. There is a recessed hole in the back for hanging on a nail or a screw. It is recommended to fix them to the wall with a bit of Blu Tack as well. The ceramic reliefs are lightfast and frostproof and suitable for outside display.

More reading: ‘Contemporary Tilemaker: Hilke MacIntyre’, article in ‘Glazed Expressions’ 2023

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“Reliefs are an ancient sculpture technique in which the figures and objects project from a solid background. In my reliefs the volume is not cut to its full extent and small variations in depth register as 3-dimensional, an interesting illusion to work with. Creating the carved-out space in between figures or objects interests me just as much as designing the figure itself. Adding pattern produces a tactile surface, which I enjoy and which is a great base for beautiful glazing effects. Each glazing has its own qualities. That opens a wide field for experimenting, like having glossy beside matt areas, thick layering beside a transparent use of the glaze, or rubbing some glazing off to let the clay come through. As well, glazing is never fully predictable, which – on the positive side – keeps opening the kiln after a high firing exciting and makes each relief slightly different from the other.”