The forms all stood up well in the firing this time around. The cookies did their job. The technical problems of the first copies were solved. Sure, there are aspects I will want to do differently next time. That’s the thing about ceramics. It takes time to get all the elements working together.
I didn’t want to get in the trap of having to make scaled down pieces of garbage for the can liners. I used the bits and scrapings that resulted from making the sculptures themselves to communicate that idea of waste. They were soaked in a few different glazes, mixed with course particles of polymer glaze and heaped into a pile inside for firing. In retrospect I might have piled higher but the idea works. Next time the cans will be overflowing. Not so sure about the can liners. Will try a version with trash piled directly in mesh can.
When I fired the first failed furries, I used alumina wax on the eyes. While this worked at repelling glaze in larger surface areas, it did not in the tight confines of the eyes. It caused the running glaze to bead up over the eyes, spoiling the surface. Kept the runniest glazes off the face this time. Mostly this worked but next time I would keep it to a simpler design. Better to fix in those that follow than to try painting this one over with enamel.
Used a grey underglaze as a base to lustre over for the trash cans. The fired surface was so dry the lustre would not have looked right. Went with metal leaf instead. If I use the grey again I will put a little clear glaze over.
Have been trying LEDs inside the cat heads. The ones with the metal leaf have the advantage for light refection. Light seems to radiate out from the eyes much more so than when the interior is left alone. Leafed the two big heads inside.
Worked an exhausting schedule to get the pieces out of the glaze by Sunday. Then had to take a day to digest the results before making up my mind about what would get enamelled. I had the idea way back that I might give my trees the orange-red marks ones with Dutch Elm Disease are given. I was reminded of that in the last few weeks when two more trees with the marks were removed across from my house.
Spent time this past weekend choosing the images to print from the project. I have a wonderful larger format photo printer I reserve for special projects. Seems I hadn’t used it for so long the inks have dried up. Couldn’t get a good quality print. The inks are expensive and have to be ordered online so decided to order prints locally. Wouldn’t you know it once I placed the order online with a local photo dealer, the receipt stated it will take five business days. So not in time for Friday. Wrote back a pleading request to speed it up but this may be out of their control. I would not be surprised if the prints are done offshore and shipped here when ready. Maybe I will get lucky and they will arrive ahead of schedule. Otherwise a big empty wall on Friday.
Stop by the Edge this Friday September 2 between 7:00 P.M. and 10:00 P.M. to help me celebrate the journey that has been this project so far. Would love to see some friends, former students and anyone else who might care to attend.
