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Dahlias in bloom at the Mendocino County Botanical Gardens-photo by CDR |
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”
Anais Nin
sold
Inspired by sea anemones, dahlias and grasses. Guided by the Anais Nin quote.
I took a risk on this piece. I glazed it with a satin white. My intent was to leave it all unglazed. I rarely glaze an entire sculptural piece. I mainly use terra sigs or engobes with small areas of shiny glazes. Lots of color. Lots of texture. However, it needed a hard glaze to insure that the tendrils stayed put.

Reluctant at first, I began to open up to the process of brushing on layers of white satin glaze. While it dried I stained a terra cotta figure laying next to it with rutile. I returned to this piece and forgot I had a brush full of rutile in my hand. One stroke onto the white surface without thinking. Oh no! Now I wasn't going to wipe it off and start again. I didn't have the time. After a few anxious moments, I went with it.
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When I opened the kiln I thought of sunshine and my grassy meadow drying out in the summer heat. I was surprised by the intensity of the yellows. Just a little Rutile, Mason Stain 6440 and Red Art slip mixed with some white satin glaze. Peachy salmon tones here and there from the Red Art, goldenrod yellow from the Rutile. Bright, confident primary yellows peeking out. All this from a mistake--a little mishap and a decision to go with it.
trial wall pieces done with colored porcelain clay, terra cotta and basalt clay, stoneware |