Dave Binns


		Smoothing off the plaster mold after casting between two wooden formers.
					David Binns, works from his studio in Denbigh, North Wales and teaches ceramics and 3D design at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston. The study of furniture design and an interest in architecture have undoubtably influenced his approach and style in ceramics.
		David pours clay slip with aggregate into his plaster former which is surrounded on two sides by timber battons cut to shape.
						At the moment, he is making semi architectural forms using a series of different aggregrate materials mixed into the clay body. The precision he instils into his mould making must definetly be influenced by his interest in futniture design and the process of its manifacture. Watching him make his molds was like watching a master cabinet maker assemble a finely crafted piece of furniture.
	When the plaster former has dried, it is placed between two more timber formers into which the clay slip aggregate is poured and then tamped and dragged to take the shape of the batton edges.
End view of the cast mold
End view of the cast mold				The two sides of the cast piece before joining.
			A Platter made from aggregrate loaded clay slip which is ground down to a polished surface after firing.