We Create What We Know (Even If We Don’t Realize It)
In an earlier post I mentioned that my brother thought the girl in Bodyguard looked like me. Recently, I saw the photo again and it was uncanny. This has happened many times before–several pieces I’ve made resemble relatives, friends, etc. Even hands and feet–though all unintentional. Here is the photo Dave was talking about: Me, in high school, with hair almost down to my waist. And here is...
Read MoreStolen Moments
This title sound very mysterious and provocative…read on (if you dare)…. While I’m waiting for things to dry–clay, glazes and underglazes, I’ve been making medium size dogs and, yes, some tiny pieces. Wasn’t going to do that, but with the economy, yada yada… Turns out, these teeny pieces are a great break from the challenge of the big ones. And they are a blast (does using that term give away my age???) to glaze. As close to immediate gratification as you can get in the clay world. I’ve been making teensy catfish, dogs, penguins and other...
Read MoreFurther Updates on Bodyguard and Carolline and Grace
Well, I’ve been working like a…um…dog, so have not been keeping up with posting. Bodyguard came out of the kiln with flying colors. And so did Caroline and Grace! Except that Caroline’s eyes were a little too flying–even with medium blue details, they were pale enough to still be creepy against black pupils. I loved her hair color–wanted it to be pretty mousy. But, it did not look good against Grace’s fur color. So Caroline got a makeover–darker brown hair and brown eyes. Hate the-people will think I am unimaginative. Though it does make...
Read MoreUpdate on Bodyguard and Caroline and Grace
As I write this, Bodyguard is in the kiln at a toasty 1200 degrees. Here are some photos of her just before she went in. She received more layers of underglazes, including many fine details here and there and some very stylish highlights in her hair. Don’t worry, they won’t be so contrasty after firing. The girl’s skin and tee shirt will be a little darker. There are two shades of black on the dog’s body. The result will be almost unnoticeable. Caroline and Grace have received their first layer of underglazes. I did not add her pupils–creepy, I know. Her...
Read MoreBodyguard–more glazes and second firing
As expected, Bodyguard needed a little dermatology to clear up her blotchy complexion. I added more layers of underglazes to the piece to even out her skin tone. To add depth and interest, I added underglazes in colors related to, but not the same as, the first layer to the girl’s eyes, tee shirt & hair, put more dark brown and black in the dog’s ears, and used a slightly different shade of black in the dog’s body. Kevin loaded her into the kiln yesterday–he was able to carry her from the studio this time. We still set up a pedestal for her to sit on before he...
Read More