Robert Rossel:
1 Mixing Clay
Robert Rossel:
2 Final mix of clay blend
Robert Rossel:
3 Clay Blend ready to be transformed into tiles
Robert Rossel:
4 Clay is then loaded into clay extruder
Robert Rossel:
5 Just about loaded up
Robert Rossel:
6 steal plate is bolted on for 8 inch size tiles
Robert Rossel:
7 Clay blend is extruded through clay die
Robert Rossel:
8 Each strip will make two 8 inch tiles
Robert Rossel:
9 Strips are left on wood boards to dry out for 24 hours
Robert Rossel:
10 Special work tables are set up for oversized projects
Robert Rossel:
11 Strips are rolled to clean and smooth the surface of the tiles
Robert Rossel:
12 Strips are cut down to make each individual tile
Robert Rossel:
13 Tiles are laid out
Robert Rossel:
14 Ready to get the flowers
Robert Rossel:
15 The flowers are kept in buckets of water until ready to print
Robert Rossel:
16 Thistles are collected and pressed under sheets of wood to help keep them flat for printing later
Robert Rossel:
17 Flowers are laid on top of mural and then gently rolled and pressed into the wet clay
Robert Rossel:
17 Plexiglas is used to help press plants into the clay and see the placement of the plants underneath
Robert Rossel:
18 A rolling pin is used to push the fine details of the plants and smooth out the surface of the tiles
Robert Rossel:
18 Great details can be created from the right kind on plant textures
Robert Rossel:
18 The plants are now compressed into the surface of the tiles and must be taken out soon as possible
Robert Rossel:
19 Right side after plants have been pulled out
Robert Rossel:
20 Left side
Robert Rossel:
21 The shadows of the plants are sometimes more amzing then the actual plants
Robert Rossel:
22 Slow drying must be done in order to help tiles dry flat
Robert Rossel:
IMG_3110
Robert Rossel:
IMG_3115
Robert Rossel:
IMG_3090
Robert Rossel:
IMG_3084
Robert Rossel:
IMG_3093
