Large and small

Painting ceramics in miniature.

One of my regular sized dinner plates and two tiny plates measuring only 1.5 inches.   

Dinner plate, from a set of 12,  I painted for a client. 

See the marble rim, very tedious to paint but not nearly as tedious as the two small plates. 

  

And outside?

 The Daffodils are still going strong. 

Cool weather has made them last longer.

Trees are still bare.

Temporary fence keeps the ducks and geese from nibbling on them.  
When will they learn that Daffodils are poisonous?  

What are you up to this week my dear  

Blogging Friends?

Gina

Joining  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/
Also joining  http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/2013/05/

Which do you prefer?

Gold or no Gold

If you have visited with me for a little while you know my preference for Gold.

Possibly, my early European training is to blame.

My house has many golden accents.

When spread out it's not quite so "gold."

A little gold is better than none?  

Or would you prefer no gold at all?

Like this?  

When I paint ceramics, the colors are fired to around 1800 degrees Fahrenheit (998 Celsius).

Gold is then added and fired again at a much lower temperature.

  

 Gold is very temperamental.  

I have a few extra plates with the wrong initials in my pantry.

Wishing you, my dear Blogging Friends,

lots of success in everything you do. 

Gina 

Third time must be the charm!

That is what the very talented and charming Theresa of

 Art's The Answer said.

I was commissioned by Theresa to paint an Armorial Plate for her.

This is the picture Theresa sent of her family crest.

This is my first drawing.

Theresa apologized for the complexity of the design and added that I could simplify it.  She did mention that I should include the "Lions because they would symbolize Firenze to me as well as me being a Leo".

This is the first plate I painted,  ready for the first firing.  Theresa also asked for diagonal stripes, three dots (for Medici Family) a checkerboard and family initial to be drawn within the shield.

 After gold was applied and plate was fired for the second time I noticed quite a few pin marks at the margin of the plate.  The glaze and the clay were not compatible.

Second Plate.  See the pink shadow at the bottom of the crest?  It appeared after the second firing.  It takes too long to tell you what actually happened. Suffice is to say I learned a valuable lesson.

So I added (only as an experiment) gold lines over the pink shadow to see what would happen. Into the kiln for the third time. Interesting, but no. 

 Third Plate.  All is well.  This is it!  Theresa's Armorial Plate. 

Have a great remainder of the week my dear Blogging Friends.

Gina