magic

blue pears & the bird
18" platter


So do you remember this post? I promised I would be back to show you some magic... Ta da! Here it is!
The finished platter.

I also wanted to chime in and talk a little bit about process sharing. Seems I opened a can of worms with the platters progress post. I received many an email asking me what exactly my process is and to explain it. I admit that it may have been misleading and that it might have looked like I was giving a tutorial but in fact my intention with that particular post was to share with you what goes into my making one of my platters and was not intended, in any way, to be a tutorial. So if you write (or wrote) to me and ask me to give a detailed explanation of my process and I respond by saying no, please, please don't be offended. I ask you keep in mind this is my livelihood. I have had a handful of bad experiences with large companies and individuals knocking off my work and stealing designs so putting it ALL out there is not something I am comfortable with. Besides the magic would be gone if I revealed my tricks.

I know it sucks to get a reply denying your request when you are well meaning and asking a question out of enthusiasm because you are inspired by what you see. Believe me, I feel awful writing back saying no I'm not going to tell you what you would like to know.
So let's not make each other feel bad anymore, okay?
No more dreaded question and no more dreaded answer.
Deal!

One kindly inquirer suggested I write a book about my process and I thought it was a great idea. Maybe someday that will happen and if it does I promise I will write a very juicy tell all.

P.S. A special thanks to those of you who did write and ask and so graciously accepted my response and wrote back to me saying you understood. I truly appreciate it!

platter's progress

Hi friends,

Yesterday I worked on this large 18" platter for a special order and I thought it would be fun to chronicle the drawing and etching as it progressed and share it with you.

1. the platter is hand painted first with the main color elements in place. (note; book illustration for reference and cup of tea for encouragement).

2. I draw the design in pencil first (you might have to look closely to see the pencil markings).
The pencil markings burn out in the firing.


3. the first etch. just the basic lines of the motif are etched in.

4. starting to add the detail. notice the name stamp (on the right hand corner of the ivory rectangle has been added as well).

5.Let the circles begin! The long and tedious process of hand stippling the circles. I've drawn so many circles that I don't need a template to draw them anymore. They are all free hand. Practice makes perfect!

6. still stippling. (time to make another cup of tea!)



Ta da!
All finished...Well not really.

I will be back soon to show you some magic!

***

life's little surprises

Do you remember when I excitedly began working on the new nasturtium bowl and I showed you the picture below (on the left) of the new green I was using without having made a test of it first? You all commented on how much you liked the color. I was brave (and naive) to think that it would be close to the color it was out of the bottle. I can only laugh at myself for being so bold.















See the wee bit of green on the inside of the bowl on the right? That is the color it turned out. A lovely shade of baby poop brown! Actually I love the color and it goes quite well with some of the other new colors I have been doing tests of. I just hadn't expected it to turn out so far from the color on the left. So remember friends, always make a test before you boldly go where no other ceramic artist has gone before.