Isn’t it great when hard work and persistence finally start paying off!
After a much needed holiday I am back and all I can say is “Bring it on 2022!!!”
After months of endless days spent testing with my 3D clay printer I am FINALLY at that point where I can say with confidence “I know what I am doing!”.
My 3D Clay Printer and I have worked on our friendship, and we have finally started understanding one another. We haven’t bought friendship bracelets yet, but only time will tell.
At some point something just started clicking into place, and wow was I happy when that happened! As a reward I bought myself a ridiculously expensive 1500-piece puzzle, which I will have to rebuild at least five times to make sure I get my money’s worth.
Coming from a background where I only made hand-made pottery and moving into this new space of combining technology with the traditional art of pottery was probably the most eye opening and scariest thing I have ever done in my career.
You may ask “What is there to be scared of?”
Well, moving out of my comfort zone into the unknown world of clay printing where research and experience has shown me that you must experiment, test, experiment, and test some more.
You need to be relentless and sometimes you just need to take that extra hour coffee break where you rethink your entire life whilst realising you just drank a piece of clay that mysteriously found its way into your mug – leading to more introspection.
My worst fears about getting the clay printer were that it would break and that I would not know how to fix it. Since that has already happened with the whole wiring episode and having to find new parts, I think those hurdles have been conquered.
Having everything go wrong in the beginning has showed me that I can solve mechanical problems even if it does take me a little longer to even figure out what the problem actually is.
Just like me you may not have an engineering degree, but if you take your time, ask questions, along with not being scared to ask for help, your problem will always work itself out.
Testing is completely next level! I have an entire list of things I must methodically go through when I create a clay print. Some of these include making sure my clay consistency is correct, looking at layer heights, nozzle diameters, the speed of the print, should the flow be increased or decreased and a whole lot more.
I keep thinking I should add a section called did you water your bonsai? It is the only plant in my studio and I always forget. I have had to revive it at least twice.
Being a Type A personality when it comes to my work makes me want to follow a planned-out process and in this way calms my brain and helps boosts my confidence since I am learning whilst doing.
Some prints just fell in on themselves and I soon learned how dangerous an air bubble can be when one shot straight through one of my prints.
I also want to start working with porcelain, which to be honest with you I am absolutely terrified to try. The two 20-kilogram bags I bought are still lying in my clay crate, and they keep calling my name whilst I act oblivious to their existence.
I am currently trying to finalise the design concepts for some of my 3d clay works and I am so excited to bring my ideas to life. I have been sketching a lot more, trying to figure out form and colour and it has really helped with my creative process.
Sidebar -I will be uploading a new video to my YouTube channel -Hendrien Horn- on the last Friday of every month for you to go and check out what projects I am working on along with following me on this new adventure of mine as a 3D Potter, so please join!
I must say I am super chuffed with myself as I planned out my whole year and put it up on my wall. It consists of five A3 pages of mind-maps and scribbles stuck together with cello tape, prestik, and pure hope for the year. Which let’s face it is a little over optimistic, but I am gonna give it a go.
I have made the decision that I need to laugh more so bring it on 2022! Wishing you a smashing year full of laughter!