Glazing for the next firing was postponed Sunday morning when intern Alex Urbina arrived to continue work on her dragon. This complex and mythical animal is patterned roughly on Chinese ceremonial dragons. Right down to the scales, teeth and whiskers. Assuming it survives the drying, bisque firing and glaze firing, it should be one of the coolest things in the intern/mentor show at the Cape Museum of Art in May. Alex intends to glaze it in Shino of one type or another. We're looking at a carbon-trap dragon here, I think.
Alex is a hard worker and arrives at the studio when she says she will. She's had to learn to center clay on the wheel, throw decent cylinders and use the slab roller (scales for the dragon) to complete this project. Right now, the dragon is being built on a full Skutt kiln shelf, so that once it's dry it can be lowered into the bisque kiln. Both of us are keeping fingers crossed on the whole project.
I'll go back to glazing later this afternoon.
8 comments:
Well, since I am obsessed with slaying dragons right now(as I type this Wesley is killing one), you know I am loving this post! This makes me want to offer up space for an internship, I love that you have done this, that girl will learn sooooo much!
Fingers crossed for those dragon whiskers, I am cringing just thinking about how far they have to go to survive!
Cannot wait to see the completed piece!!
There is always glue, it has become a great friend of mine:)
amazing detail! the whiskers are making me nervous, I will keep my fingers crossed too.
You're both right to be nervous. you can see already that the whiskers are drying out. She's done a good job keeping the whole thing moist as she's attached everything, but the whiskers are very thin and delicate. In fact, we just had a chat about making extras to glaze and fire, on the chance that we have to grind down stumps and glue the replacement ones on. I'm also nervous about the tongue, so we'll do the same thing there.
Fantastic. Like everyone else I am anxious! Building on the kiln shelf was an educated move. CANNOT wait to see the result.
That is an amazing dragon.... So impressive!
Wonderful details and you got my fingers crossed too...
You know how I love a good dragon. I am mighty glad I am not the one responsible for firing that though. Oh my goodness. It's going to look fab though. I am very impressed.
OK, now all you guys have me worried, too ...
That is one ambitious girl. I'm wishing her luck with those attachments.I put wax resist over attachment areas to even out the drying if I'm in a hurry. That might be helpful here.
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