Tiles On the Web:
Video Reviews

Videos Reviewed

The Art of Tilemaking with Ellie Hudovernik

The Art of Tilemaking:
Historic Relief Processes

with Ellie Hudovernik

Deephaven Films, 1989
VHS Videotape, 63 minutes
$39.95+$2 shipping to:
Ellie Hudovernik
P.O. Box 49
Cascade, WI 53011
(414)-564-2913
Credit card orders accepted.

Summary

This video contains some useful tips for making relief tiles. Unfortunately, the horrible production makes it almost unwatchable. Save your $40.

Favorite Feature: Demonstration of a method to make relief tiles with interchangable backgrounds and primary designs.

Room For Improvement: Terrible production. Jerky camera work, often out of focus, poorly written and delivered narration.

The Review

The tape starts with a slightly bizarre scene (shot in a old grain silo?) meant to set the artistic tone of the tape. What it did instead is make me nervous about what I was in for. I was right to be nervous

Following the introduction, the author's method for making relief tiles is demonstrated and explained in detail. Using two slabs and two plaster molds, a system of interchangable designs is created. The idea is a good one. It is hidden behind some truly awful camera work.

The following topics are covered on the tape:
Carving plaster master molds
Creating background and inset design prototypes
Mixing plaster
Pouring open faced press molds
Using open faced press molds
Drying and bisque firing tiles
Decorating with underglazes
Glazing and glaze firing

This tape might be a worthwhile purchase if the production was improved. The authors should have more carefully thought out the narration, practiced the techniques for demonstration in front of a camera, taken time to set up the shots, and above all minimized use of a handheld camera. I needed Dramamine before I was half way through.

Reviewed by: Tom Colson.

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