© 2009 Kate Hopkins-Searle

Many small detailed sketches are made prior to transferring the design to the plaster last to turn the 2-dimensional image into a 3-dimensional shoe.  Ideas for colour and pattern are also noted in the sketchbook.

The shoes are hand-built using thinly rolled slabs of clay with the various parts of the shoe allowed to harden a little before being joined together. 

Decoration is applied while the clay is soft in the form of impressed patterns and sprigged mouldings.  Very thin sheets of clay are manipulated to look like fabric in the form of frills, bows and rosettes.  Each bead on the shoes is individually hand rolled. 

The pieces are then fired multiple times, using different temperatures for clay, underglaze colours, glazes and the metallic lustres.