Well, it’s going to go on a wall in a fine home . . .
No joke, she did this from a freehand sketch within a day and a half! Starting with big chunks of clay on a rolled-out plaque –
Making cattails –
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Starting on the crab that’s about to get speared –
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Sculpting the crab claws from that kid’s book on her knee –
Finished and cut into tile – the heron’s breast “floats” above the center right tile and is attached to the center left –
All buttoned-up and drying slowly to “leather-hard” before the firing –
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Forrest – can’t do that at ALL
Edited 2/2/2009 6:29 am ET by McDesign
Replies
That is beautiful!
That is so friggin cool. I'm aching to do a casting of that before she cut it into tiles and do a negative in bronze. That way you could have it forever. You could still do each tile that way.
That is real talent there. She been doing that all her life?
What's the glaze going to be?
You're ever up this way, look me up and we'll go to the Moravian tile works in Doyalstown Pa.
I would love to go there. I've been doing tile work for about a year, but worked with clay before kids.
Thanks,
L.
Actually it's "bone dry" before firing
Edited 2/2/2009 10:38 am ET by TileGal
Or the Mercer tile museum? I went to Del Val, and all of the teacher used to talk about Mercer tiles.
http://www.buckscounty.org/departments/tileworks/
So is it out of the kiln yet? You should know better. You can't give us an in-progress project without finishing it.
jt8
lotsa worse things happen to better people than me every day. --Snort
Soon - the kiln is full and firing as we speak. Not sure if the Heron is in there - I know the other crab and eel grass 2x3 set is in.
I think they come out tomorrow night - will post.
Forrest
How bad does your electric meter spin when that thing is running?
jt8
lotsa worse things happen to better people than me every day. --Snort
Not too bad - it's rated at 30A at 240, and will trip a 30A breaker on "high". I've got it fed with a 50A and #6 now (used to be for my welder) - I keep meaning to get a GE 40A and try it.
Forrest
It's not bone dry yet. That's one of the hard things about making tile by hand; they will warp in a heartbeat. So, I dry them verrry slowly, covered with thick plastic, changing the substate (sheetrock) almost everyday. It's probably a couple weeks out.
Laura
Hey - exciting news! These just came out. Incredibly cool - just remember, these are just quickie shots with a cheap camera under fluorescents - much nicer in real life. DW was truly relieved -
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Pine from the yard -
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Forrest
Edited 2/24/2009 10:01 pm ET by McDesign
Man, them thumbs are SO lifelike!!!Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
Gorgeous!
Don't know about you, but I could imagine a whole wall devoted to that aquatic theme. Parts under water, parts shoreline and a bit on regular land.
jt8
lotsa worse things happen to better people than me every day. --Snort
Well, that just drummed up an image in my mind, too...very cool idea.
The Heron will be part under water - the bottom two tiles. The more glaze work I do, the more I'm able to incorporate that into the planning. Unlike the crab and oyster bar, which I made and then took 3/4 of a year to figure out a glaze plan... Boy, I was sweating it, waiting for the kiln to cool.
Laura
beautiful work, you are truly an artist. i love seeing pictures of your creations.
Thanks very much. It's being lots of fun.
Thanks, this whole glaze thing is almost a Buddhist experience in letting go.
Letting go and patience. No instant gratification with THAT hobby!
jt8
lotsa worse things happen to better people than me every day. --Snort
Well it turned out fabulous - those colors are perfect.
Thanks, I was pleased with the results.
I can already envision your building thread in a couple years when the tile gig takes off. You'll be constructing a large, brick, coal-fired kiln in the back yard. gotta keep up with demand!
Just have the kids set their alarm clock so that they can wake up in the middle of the night and shovel a couple more scoops of coal in the fire. :)
jt8
lotsa worse things happen to better people than me every day. --Snort
Yo, McDesign haven't you left yet?
Yes - I am home now - are you upstairs?
Actually, ALL, exciting heron pix await!
Stay tuned . . .
Forrest
Yes - I am home now - are you upstairs?
Something new!!!!!! Nookey date set up over the computer??? When yer in the same house?????
Git yer lazy butt up them stairs boy!! :-)
Hmmmm....
"A Honey Do" ????
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
Okay - back to our regularly scheduled thread.
BLAMMO!
The autopsy indicates excessive moisture in the this thick section (she was retaining water). A steam explosion blew all the damp bits inside into gravel, and popped off the sculpted body and neck, and the top of one leg. Other tiles are fine.
Just not enough drying time before firing.
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The good news is that DW will re-attach the pieces and hide the cracks in the glazing, and WE'LL get to enjoy it here (yippee!), since it won't be sold. -
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Forrest
Ps TileGal's being real philosphical about this
Edited 3/4/2009 9:11 pm ET by McDesign
Forgot a pic with the body off -
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Forrest
Edited 3/4/2009 9:32 pm ET by McDesign
so, it is now a Retorsonated Heron?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
All the pieces stuck well, But you can still see the cracks clearly, though heron seems not to mind. He's still having croaker for dinner.
Liker the colours on that.The birds themselves are awesome anywhere close to them.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
They are beautiful birds, and they're just so unbelievably huge. Obviously the crab is in the extreme foreground.
You don't realize how big until one takes off right over your head.Owls is another that will suprise you with wingspread
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
My parents have a couple of bald eagles that nest up their creek, on the Patuxent R. They sit in a tree outside the guest bedroom window and seem as big as small kids up close.
There are times we worry about our Shih Tzu running outside when the things are around. Part of out property is protected eagle nesting right over there, and on the other side over yonder is a ten acre pond for lunch, and they can fly another half mile to the shore for dinner.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I guess a dog that size would be a nice little snack.
Dental floss included
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Really cool.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
They kill Prophets, for Profits.
Bummer.
At least you got an escape plan.
You guys are way further down ( or up ) the curve though.
Keep goin' I'm lovin' these projects.Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City
Great practice! As they say, the real proof of skill is not in doing good work but in how well you can fix the disasters.
Do you have a place of honor selected for the crane once she leaves the hospital?
Okay - she got back on that horse, did the glazing, and the Heron went back into the kiln yesterday - should see it Saturday.
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Forrest
Edited 3/13/2009 6:07 am ET by McDesign
Okay - out of the kiln last night -
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Forrest
Edited 3/14/2009 11:06 am ET by McDesign
Very Nice!! Kudos to the creator. The work reminds me of a customer from back in the late 70's.
I worked for the artist who did produced this work. http://oregonprogress.oregonstate.edu/sum05/images/sculpture.jpg Her work is insanely funny most of the time, but really well done. At the end of the job she gave each of the workmen a small sculpture to keep as a "Thank You" from her. Each one was created off a scene that she remembered the crew members being involved with on the job.
Edited 3/14/2009 11:45 am by dovetail97128
I love that little box: with the barbed wire and the water in back, it's like the forbidden love that's surmounted all obstacles. She must have a great sense of fun.
Laura
She does....guts as well. Back in about 1978-79 there was an incident at the Oregon State Fair. The security detail of State Police were observed beating a young hippie long hair at the fair and it was widely reported by the state press. The next year this artist entered one of her pieces into the fair's art show, piece was about 24" long 12-14" high of a pig, it won first prize that year at the art show.
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.....pig was dressed in the uniform of an Oregon State Trooper...
They can't get your Goat if you don't tell them where it is hidden.
Very cool... and it looks like the heron took the fix. A friend was renovating a house for Allan Guganus who wrote The Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All... one bath was all white 4 x 4 tiles, floor, walls, ceiling with discretely placed custom high relief faces scattered everywhere... all white, too. Neatest bath tiles I've ever seen... til yours.http://www.tvwsolar.com
I went down to the lobby
To make a small call out.
A pretty dancing girl was there,
And she began to shout,
"Go on back to see the gypsy.
He can move you from the rear,
Drive you from your fear,
Bring you through the mirror.
He did it in Las Vegas,
And he can do it here."
Thanks, I'm still getting used to the way my glazes behave at different firing temps. I was sorry I lost the highlights and gray tone of the pre-fired heron, but it's all great stuff to learn.
Heron's in the kiln to night.
Laura - with fingers crossed
How long does it stay in the oven?
jt8
lotsa worse things happen to better people than me every day. --Snort
It depends on how high I'm firing, but actual heating time is 7 to 12 hours. Usually I don't even check the kiln until it's been cooling for 24 hours. So, Late tonight I might get a peek. Things sould be cool enough to hold without discomfort. It's an ancient kiln, so no thermostat.
you and your wife both are blessed with talent !