Test Tiles - Keuper Red

I made a series of hexagonal test tiles using a new type of clay recommended to me by a colleague. The clay has a rich reddish colour and fires at a slightly lower temperature than I would normally use, ideally around 1230 degrees. I was interested to see how both the clay body and surface decoration techniques would respond to this different firing range.

The tiles became an opportunity to explore a wide variety of slip decoration methods. Most were decorated using layers of slip, applied and manipulated in different ways to create contrasting textures, marks and surfaces, although two of the tiles were left plain and simply engraved to allow the qualities of the clay itself to remain visible.

Three of the tiles included coloured grounds beneath the white slip — black, brown and yellow — which created an unexpected effect, making the white slip appear even brighter and more intense by contrast. The layering of colour added depth and variation across the collection, highlighting how small changes in process can dramatically alter the final appearance.

I also photographed the tools used to decorate each tile, recording the different marks and textures they produced. This felt like an important part of the process, documenting not only the finished surfaces but also the methods behind them.

So far, I am extremely pleased with the results and am looking forward to seeing how the tiles develop once fired. The tests already suggest exciting possibilities for future surface decoration and glaze experimentation.