Just touching base with a little Show & Tell...

Just a quick Hello to my faithful followers and to let you know that I'm alive and well out in the real world!! It's no secret that I cope with life much better when I dwell in the "creative realm" so when I'm temporarily needed elsewhere it can be quite a challenge for me!! All I can do is, do my best... to quote a very wise Sailor man named Popeye, "I yam what I yam and that's all that I yam!"  I guess I'll just open up a can of spinach and get on with what needs to be done!! (Now, I really am aging myself!)

So... Here is another quickie Show & Tell  to tide us over until I'm artistically back in action!

The original sculpture to the left is titled "Family Tree". (Stands approximately 17" tall & 3" in diameter.) It was created with Dove porcelain and airbrushed with a celadon green under glaze before being sprayed with a clear gloss glaze.

The most challenging part of working with porcelain (in my opinion) is the drying process. Each piece needs to be dried very slowly to prevent any cracks from forming. This is where patience truly is a virtue!! It's not uncommon to keep a piece covered for weeks, only removing the plastic covering for brief periods at a time every day. The key is to have it completely bone dry before attempting a bisque firing. There's nothing more heartbreaking than to have a piece that you've poured your heart & soul into, only to have it blow up in the kiln!! I'd like to say I'm always correct and I've never lost a piece but that's not the case...remember in a previous post when I mentioned my bag of deadheads! On the other hand, there is nothing more exciting than opening a kiln and finding that perfect piece, just the way you planned it to be!! Working with clay is not an instant gratification art form...but the challenge definitely has it's own rewards!!