What is Nerikomi?

The project behind my residencies is creating a nerikomi slab and then using that to create a new series of domestic ware. Plates, bowls, cups, teapots, along with incidentals like salt and pepper, sauce jugs, napkin holders, spoon rests etc. These will be made using the nerikomi slab.
So what is nerikomi?

Nerikomi is a Japanese decorative pottery technique that involves combining and stacking different colored clays to create intricate patterns. The process often involves creating a block of laminated, colored clay, then slicing through it to reveal a pattern, which can be applied to a hand-built or wheel-thrown piece. This technique is also known as neriage when the colored clay is marbled together and then thrown on a potter's wheel, although nerikomi specifically refers to the hand-built method.

Also there is agateware

Agateware pottery features swirling marbleized colors and was probably first developed to imitate the qualities of agate, a semiprecious stone with striated patterning. These swirling effects can be created either by throwing with a prepared mixture of colored clays, or by working with thin slabs of colored clay that has been layered to create patterns.

I first came across nerikomi while I was at Driving Creek, Coromandel, when a wonderful potter Avara Moody came on a residency and held a workshop.  Her wonderful work involved making nerikomi pieces that were applied to the interior of a mould and then she slip cast cups with white clay, so when they came out the nerikomi was an integral part of the cup.

She can be found at https://avarastudio.com/ 
Her socials are:

https://www.instagram.com/avarastudio/

https://www.facebook.com/avarastudio/

So that sat in my design and ideas stack for a few years until I came across Judy McKenzie in a Nerikomi Masterclass video from Ceramic Review. WOW. 

  

Photos are used with the kind permission of Judy McKenzie. 

Photography by Layton Thompson and Ceramic Review.

Judy's socials:  Judy McKenzie Instagram

Judy McKenzie Facebook

What really grabbed me was the idea that I could create a geometric pattern in my slab and I then didn't have to glaze anything! 

This was at a time when I was having problems finding "my palette of colours".  I have since found a great combination of Bruce Walford Matte as a liner glaze and Arrowmont Blue Green as an outer with both sprayed. 

Arrowmont when sprayed is green when thin, and blue when thicker.....fun times. 

So.... part of the exercise is to create a geometric pattern in coloured clay...this could be an iconic pattern that is Fredrock Ceramics theme or might be a series of patterns.
This is the first exciting part of the journey.

The above are some designs that I am looking at for ideas. 

5 months and 5 day to fly time.....

Safe travels everyone, til next post.