Ceramic – Page 7

Greenman, Brooches and Soul Boat

February 15, 2015 4 Comments

Traduction Française ici
It’s been one week since Loki left for Faeryland. It’s difficult to overcome the wave of apathy that replaced the raw emotions, but I trust time will heal. Meanwhile, since I’m not inspired by jars of ashes, I made this altar to my little one and needle felted a figurine of him. From a distance, he looks exactly like him and this sight soothes my pain a little. The box will be filled with other little things. I’m glad I could felt, much love and tenderness went into its making. I made him plump and healthy again.

I did some glazing which turned out allright and painted for the first time some brooches with my new underglazes. Amaco makes them. They’re supposed to retain their colours at 1200 celcius but I’m a bit disappointed. I think some colours like purple, pink and red need to be “overdone”. At that point, after having invested so much in diverse materials, I get tempted to just paint my figurative ceramic pieces with oil paints. Seriously considering it… I guess, it’s allright if you use low-fire clays but mine’s a stoneware clay. Until now, all the underglazes I purchased, when fired at 1200, are just not satisfying. They either fade or darken. Until I get some low-fire paperclay, I’ll probably give a chance to oils and stick to Potter’s Choice glazes for the big items. I like oils, they’re nice on ceramic. And the ones I use dilute with water and dry pretty fast.

The Princess and the Goblin. I think they go well together. Beauty and the Beast is my favourite fairy tale.

Pixie revisited. With the new underglazes this time. Although they’re very nice to work with, what you see is not what you get in the end. I will use oils for my next brooches.

A little witch. Once a witch, always a witch.

I couldn’t make a witch without an owl, could I?

My favourite one. I love old boats. And rough seas. Imagine how nice and cosy it must be in its little cabin.

A goblin prince. I don’t think he’s much into princesses.

The roof of the tower on my own personal Soul Boat had broken so I wanted a replacement. And guess what? It doesn’t fit! I’ll make a house that’ll go with it (hopefully).

A Soul Boat, which will be soon in my Esty store. Now the symbolism of the Soul Boat is quite strong. A friend of mine today mentioned the harmony of water (the sea which surrounds the boat) and the inner flame (the tealights you place inside) and it speaks to me. I also like the idea of the prow figure as a guardian of the Soul. And the fact that the boat symbolises adventures while the house with its cosy lights offer a peaceful retreat.

And a Greenman I did for a dear friend of mine. It will hang on a wall. I think the colours are beautiful.

Green Man

January 3, 2015 2 Comments

I added some Green Man pendants to my Etsy store:

https://www.etsy.com/no-en/shop/Kundryland?ref=hdr_shop_menu

Jewellery and Illuminated Sanctuary

January 1, 2015 5 Comments

I’ve been working on this for such a long time, I can’t believe I finally managed to place these two items on my Etsy shelves. There’s more to come but one day at a time! I have so many ideas, my creativity is all over the place and it’s hard to sleep at night, considering how slowly everything goes. Or maybe I’m going at a normal pace, and it’s just time which is permanently in a hurry. Yes, that sounds more fair.

Here is what I just put in my Etsy store:

I had a hell of a time taking pictures of them… because it’s the polar night.

And here’s the link to my Etsy store:

https://www.etsy.com/no-en/shop/Kundryland?ref=hdr_shop_menu

Happy New Year 2015

December 31, 2014 No Comments

hny

A happy new year to my readers!

Still warm (warmish) from the kiln, my latest creations with all the details about the Potter’s Choice glazes I used. I’m quite disappointed by some of them, they didn’t turn out even remotely close to the results which are shown on Amaco’s website. But apparently, I’m not the only one in that case. I guess there are some combinations I will avoid in the future. Still, I’m learning, Moon, witch and little goblin with crossed hands are part of a set, they’ll be illuminated by tealights (on the stands).

Soul Boat Lantern

December 28, 2013 2 Comments

Traduction Française ici
This is my last ceramic for some time now. It’s a Soul Boat, a vessel for the Soul across this vast Ocean that is Life. But it doesn’t stop here. The Soul Boat can also travel through the Otherworld.

Click on the images for more details:

I’ve also made a Green Man cookie mold. Unfortunately, it is a bit too thick but I think it would work great with marzipan:
cookie
And here’s the original:
greenman

Yule

December 21, 2013 7 Comments

Traduction Française ici
gang

Happy Yule, happy Solstice! And may all your sweetest dreams come true! And may your feet tread serenely on this path which is full of enchantments for those whose eyes remain wide open.

These are the results of my last firing. I’m always so grateful that nothing exploded or stuck to the shelves. This time I took note of everything I did so as to not lose track, I’ve spent most of the afternoon recording all of this straight onto the pictures. There are a few things I would have done differently now. Some glazes I won’t be using again or only in a very special way. I’m still learning a lot about the glazes I’m using and their limitations.

I’ll start with my most successful achievement, Alkonost. She’s a legendary bird of the Russian Myths. She’s an image of my Soul, but also one friend’s soul who will welcome her into her home.

sirin

Click on the images for all the details:

This is Mister Fox. I’m aware there is an animation of the same title but I haven’t seen it.

mrfox

And Dame Owl, whose name sounds a bit like Dame Holle, goddess of Winter (amongst other things).

dameowl

And these are the tiles on which the lanterns will sit.

Firing at 1200 c. Ramp of 800 in 8 hours. From 800 to 1200: 3 hours. Hold 15 mn. Shouldn’t have hold it. It’s a bit too much for the Velvet underglazes which turned a bit too shiny for my taste.