At this stage of the process the porcelain is in a very fragile and soft state called Bisque, meaning that it’s been fired once to about 1400°F, to remove all chemically bonded water from the slip.
These parts can now be immersed in water for a wet sanding, to remove all seams and imperfections, and carve more expressive depth into the face, hands, and feet.
But one must use a feather touch while working with bisque porcelain, as it’s as soft and brittle as eggshell at this point, and can easily break under the tools. One wrong swipe of the sanding sponge, and the whole nose is gone, so all my tool strokes have to be very restrained, small, light, and deliberate.
It takes me on average 8-12 hours to wet-clean 21 body parts that comprise a single doll, and all of it has to be done in water, as inhaling airborne ceramic dust particles is extremely dangerous, and causes a lung disease called silicosis.
To offset the hours of discomfort from cold, wet fingers, I like to get as comfy in my studio as possible: Start a marathon of my favourite show on Netflix, such as Murdoch Mysteries, brew a little thermos of coffee for the hours ahead, turn on a tiny space heater to blow hot air on my hands or feet, get the dogs settled and snoring in their ‘work’ beds, and always, always have a pleasant ambient lighting set up in my workshop for positive vibes.
The process of making art is just as important as the end result, so I like to make my process as joyous and as enriching for me as possible. Otherwise, what’s the point of doing it, if it doesn’t bring joy?
ENCHANTED DOLL Marina Bychkova