Little Landscape #2

8 in x 8 in - Oil on coral-toned canvas

Update: Right after posting this blog entry, this little painting tumbled off the easel and landed face down on the floor. I just about had a heart attack. It looks relatively unscathed though, thank god!! 

Little Landscape

Sue and I are participating in a group show of 500 small artworks, profits from which will benefit the wonderful the BayArts center which we call home. I decided to create landscapes for the show, since its a great way to practice for the larger natural pieces that I will make for  "Small Good Things." Here is my first landscape attempt:

Oil paint on a coral-colored toned canvas

This little painting took about 2 hours start to finish. Surprisingly, I had a good time painting it! I consider myself more of a figurative painter and have never really attempted landscape before (other than a few plein-air workshops). It simply wasn't very interesting to me. However, this was fun! Not too boring at all once you get into the thick of it. I think I'll do more...

Turtle Tile

Glazing the sculptural tiles has turned out to be rather labor intensive... First, I painted iron oxide over the entire surface. I wiped most of it off again, allowing it to remain in cracks and crevices.

Next, I painted some underglaze here and there.

Then I painted individual glaze colors, always waxing areas where one glaze meets another.

Oops! Wax drip. I'll have to wait for the drip to dry, then scrape, sand, and burn it off. I use a kitchen torch for the burning... some fun!

More glazing and waxing.

Ready to go! At this moment, the piece looks its very worst.

And here's the fired piece. I'm really, really happy with it.

Even more fish

I'm decorating some of the cups and saucers I threw in March with "feeder fish." Guppies, goldfish, and other 10-cent fish.

I'll glaze the cup exteriors and saucer rims with my favorite "shino" glaze. Or possibly sage. I love painting these cups... they're also really pleasant to use. As you drink your coffee, your "fishy friends" are revealed. I may do a couple with frogs. Or is that just gross?

Here's the 16-inch birdbath in progress.

I'd like to do a third birdbath with a snake, but I'm afraid the birds would be frightened by it. I've seen plastic alligator heads for sale that are meant to scare herons away from your fish pond... Are Ohio herons that easily fooled?

In Progress!!

Getting there!




.... i just have to say, the fact that the color and texture of this painting matches the color and texture of the blog wallpaper makes me very very happy.

Underpainting - Cameron and the Bees

I had a fantastic photo shoot with two incredible models this weekend and have been itching to start painting since then! This is the very beginning of what will be a big series in the show, though I feel like I have enough photos and inspiration to fill 10 shows. Narrowing them down has been quite a task, but I think this is a great place to start. I can't wait begin layering in the oils. :)

More fish!

Erin and I must be on the same wavelength... Here's my first fish tile, fresh out of the kiln.

I used my favorite "light green shino" glaze. It sets off fish scales nicely! It's not often that I make ceramic wall pieces... I'd like to do a larger multi-tile piece, but there's so much I want to do.

I'm finished with the 13-inch bird bath for now. Over the next few weeks, I'll dry it out very, very slowly. Hopefully it won't crack.

I'll use glazes that enhance the textures.

And now it's time to paint some more tableware!