Sandstone Carving

[Jody Stewart]

:) Well sometime ago I posted a question on whether anyone has fired sandstone in a kiln in order to use glaze. Unfortunately I've never figured it out yet, but on the bright side I've found a way to treat the sandstone once it's been carved to give it a "Wet" look which depending on the stone color can give it a Bronzeish hue.


This is how it looks untreated:

http://ratherbecreative.com/Online-Art-Gallery/albums/Jo-Canadians-Album/SmokeytheHead.jpg



This is how it looks treated :

http://ratherbecreative.com/Online-Art-Gallery/albums/Jo-Canadians-Album/DSC00214.jpg


http://ratherbecreative.com/Online-Art-Gallery/albums/Jo-Canadians-Album/Snakeside.jpg


http://ratherbecreative.com/Online-Art-Gallery/albums/Jo-Canadians-Album/CulturalEmbracefront.jpg


http://ratherbecreative.com/Online-Art-Gallery/albums/Jo-Canadians-Album/cephalopod2.jpg

[J.Willis]

Very nice. I've tried sandstone sculpting once and want to try it again in the future. I had an instructor say that mineral oil is a great way to get the wet look for sandstone.

As for firing it in the kiln, I really don't think that will be possible. This is more from experience camping than firing stone. Usually when a pourous stone (or any type of stone for that matter) is wet, then has heat applied to it; it explodes.

Hope that helps.

[Jody Stewart]

Very nice. I've tried sandstone sculpting once and want to try it again in the future. I had an instructor say that mineral oil is a great way to get the wet look for sandstone.

As for firing it in the kiln, I really don't think that will be possible. This is more from experience camping than firing stone. Usually when a pourous stone (or any type of stone for that matter) is wet, then has heat applied to it; it explodes.

Hope that helps.

:wink: I'm well aware of that side effect. What gave me the idea is that Sandstone handles much like clay once it's dried and ready to be fired. Same consistancy and all. It would still have to be hollowed out or drilled like any large clay sculpture that's destined for the kiln anyways.

>:D The trick is finding someone locally who's willing to lend their kiln in the experiment. There's a Prof from the New Brunswick College of Art and Design who's willing to help with it but with the price of Gas, I'm lucky to get to work, let alone driving to a different province.

[Ceramicus]

Jody,

I've never tried firing sandstone, but I don't know if that would be the best idea. Even if you could hollow it out in prep for a firing, its mineral compostion might get in the way, I.E. It has a high silica composition which, if it didn't blow up, might turn to glass and melt. I also don't think it has the same bonding qualities in it as clay and therefore might not fuse to become Rock.

I am by no means an expert on this, so I would suggest you post this question to someone over at the WetCanvas forum http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums, or give a call to someone who sells Kilns, like Skutt.

[Jody Stewart]

:[ Yeah, that's also been discussed. The prof I was talking to was thinking of a very looooong bisque at a certain cone level, to see whether it disintegrates or melts. Either Way I have an alternative at the moment which would not result in blowing up any kiln or scraping glass from the inside. I still want to try though, I think having it melt (a bit) might accidentally make an interesting image.

:bashful: Funny you mention Wetcanvas, I'm actually awaiting an ok from Admin so I can start posting. It's been a couple days, I'm sure they'll get around to it though.

[Ceramicus]

Yeah, WetCanvas takes a couple of days to get you in their system.

Well, good luck with your firing, Jody. Sounds like you've got it under control. Let us know how it turns out.