Making Dragons
I threw a few Dragon Steins on Monday then carved them on Tuesday when they were dry enough to carve without harming them. They have to be at a state of leather hard but not too dry. Carving is actually a two step process because I don't feel comfortable carving them freehand just yet. So I trace them into the soft clay from a piece of cellophane that has the original drawing, after waxing over that drawing I use a couple of calligraphy pens to carve the lines deeply into the clay through the wax. When I add the colored slip into the carved lines the wax will make cleanup easier since the slip will (mostly) only go where I need it to be.
These will stayed covered under plastic overnight so they could dry more evenly, that's also why they are sitting upside down. Then today they will be moved to the wire shelf until they are ready for the kiln.
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| Drying Dragon Steins |
These will stayed covered under plastic overnight so they could dry more evenly, that's also why they are sitting upside down. Then today they will be moved to the wire shelf until they are ready for the kiln.
Thanks for explaining your process of carving, wax resist and slip enhancement, I may try that with a few of my fish and see how it works out. Is the darker one a different type of clay?
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Linda, yes, the darker one is a different type of clay, I'm experimenting to see what works best for which images. I want to try my "Prideware" using Loafer's Glory to help keep the rainbow colors really vibrant.
DeleteIn metaphor each scale of the dragon is a, 'thou shalt not'.
ReplyDeleteFrom Joseph Campbell.
XO T
Hi Tara, I had never known that, thanks for posting it.
Deletethe wax is a great idea, the clean up is the part of doing inlay that i find so tedious.
ReplyDeleteYou should try using wax Michele, it may save you a lot of time. I use forbes wax but I don't know that it makes any difference as long as it goes on smoothly.
DeleteOH geez Lori, wow, so much work, but so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks Gary, they are a lot of work but the results are worth it.
DeleteJust beautiful! Your dragons are so elegant. Are you going to put some on Etsy?
ReplyDeleteThanks Suzi, I will be listing some on Etsy, I also hope to have a few at some Atlanta shows I'll be doing around the holidays since they were so popular at the East Atlanta Strut.
DeleteI'm in awe, as happens with many of your ideas. Great one!
ReplyDelete