I decided on a turtle for learning how to slip cast. After I tested casting a few times, I decided that these two would be a part of a piece titled “The Journey Home.” Turtles are often pictured swimming alone, and I liked the idea of two swimming together. It probably was because I just got married, but you know how it goes.
This piece is sold.
Featured at Columbia City Gallery, February-April 2017.
Porcelain
Now this piece, I love. I wanted to make something with horns for a long time, and finally decided a nature and mythology-themed show would be a perfect application. So I created “Aries,” a sort of succubus. I want to embrace a bit more multi-media, so I added in the golden chain which really topped it off. The horns aren’t painted or touched at all, they are just the raw surface of the clay.
Featured at Columbia City Gallery February-April 2017.
Ceramics, Acrylics, Jewelry Chain
30 hours
I created “Muse” towards the end of 2016. I created it in an effort to test different surface treatment techniques, drawing inspiration from the pacific Northwest. It was conceived to be part of a gallery show with my own theme of nature and mythology.
I placed a candle inside, illuminating the bronze paint. Wax paper covers the carved out portion on the hip, and when in dimmer environments, illuminates nicely.
Displayed at Columbia City Gallery February-April 2017.
Stoneware
30 hours
Ceramics with acrylics
Charlotte is very much an experimental piece for me. I had not created a bust, nor used a cold finish like this on any of my pieces before. I wanted to make something a little more light-hearted and playful. And because of this, I did not want to do my typical red iron oxide wash finish because I felt it would not create the visual cohesiveness I was going for. I do not care for under glazes much, for I feel my hand is a bit too heavy for them.
After some research online, I found a method that used an antiquing furniture polish over acrylics that looked to have the result I desired. I am extremely pleased with the results and wish to explore these cold finishes further. It is not as noticeable in the pictures, but by lightly applying a skin tone and wiping it away with a damp cloth, I was able to obtain a matte finish for the skin, while the heavier acrylic on the hair provided a slight glossiness. The polish over all of it held it together perfectly. I love the contrast of matte and gloss.
Cone 10 white stoneware fired to cone 5. Acrylic finish. Approximately 14″ tall.
Featured at Columbia City Gallery in Seattle, WA.
After my cat broke the original Madrone Dryad sculpture, I decided I wanted to remake it and make some improvements. I wanted to add the green to the original sculpture as well, but never got around to it. I used acrylic paint to add it to this one when the red iron oxide completely covered up the underglaze I used. I then used a furniture antiquing polish to tone down the green.
Featured at Columbia City Gallery from February-April 2017.
Cone 10 stoneware fired to cone 5 with red iron oxide and acrylic.
