Artist Mitch Lyons creates works of art by “lifting” color images from a section of a fifty-four square foot, 2” thick, slab of clay. His clay prints are the result of a unique process of applying liquid clay and other objects onto an isolated area of the slab. The process begins when Mitch prepares the colored slips (liquid clay) using China clay and permanent pigments. These colored slips are brushed on, dried and rolled onto the clay slab, one color over another, building the design with images, colors and textures. Once the design is finished, a moistened piece of printing material is placed over the slab. Pressure is applied using a rolling pin to transfer the clay onto the substrate. This is where a very unique thing happens. The material that he prints on has a negative charge to it, like static, so the clay is bonded to the material by a magnetic pull. The clay clings to the surface of the print through sheer magnetism. There is no adhesive or binder. When Mitch walks into his studio to work he does not go in with any preconceived ideas. He relies on emotions, attitude and spontaneity. As he says, he walks into his studio and “just does it!” |
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