The Purple Pelican

The Purple Pelican
3D leaded and plated in nickel

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Aspen Reflections

More work on the Aspen piece.  Added some frit... back in the kiln for a partial fuse. (oops pic is sideways)

 
Finally ready for the last stage... drape over a sconce mold so that it will be free standing in a lighted area.
 
ASPEN REFLECTIONS
 

Friday, February 15, 2013

Frit Painting

Time to move onto something new.... a frit painting.... which is created much like a water color, acrylic or oil painting -- only the medium this time is powdered or crushed glass.  I will attempt a landscape scene of an Aspen forest reflected in the still water of a lake.... Here goes....

Getting started with a clear piece of glass as the base.  I've cut some pieces to represent the sky peeking out of the background... the tops of some pine (or at least green) trees peeking above the aspens... some tree trunks and a bit of forest floor.  The rest of the piece will be assembled using only frit (crushed and powdered glass).


 

Now I am beginning to define the areas a bit more with the frit.
 

Now that the entire surface of the clear base is covered with colored frit, I will sprinkle a layer of clear powder, then a layer of clear fine frit to cover the entire piece.  This helps to keep the colors in place and adds another layer of glass.




 
Into the kiln for a full fuse... this is the result of the first firing... probably a couple more firings to go. Back to work I go.......
 
 








 





Sunday, February 10, 2013

Unicorn and Maiden completed

Things don't always turn out the way your mind envisions it... or I should say the way MY mind envisions it.... A bit disappointed with this piece -- but will find a place for it in my gallery....

      

 

 

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Ahhh! Finally at work at the ArtBarn

Weather is a bit cool here in Phoenix.  We need to use a heater in our studio!!! Not as cold as Winnipeg though!  It is great to be back at work here at the Art Barn.  I have brought the pieces of the work I had started BEFORE Christmas!!! and have finally got the Unicorn piece underway.  It's been a bit of slow-go -- as I am creating the background as I go (rather than making a pattern ahead of time).  I have fused the unicorn and the maiden.  The background will be done with stained glass - and the foil method.. .I have just started wrapping the pieces with foil -- must go and pick up some more glass for the final border.... hopefully tomorrow.  Here's what it looks like so far....

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Purple Pelican Art Glass: Oh Dear, now what....

Purple Pelican Art Glass: Oh Dear, now what....: Here I am out of the kiln... my fear re bubbles has been allayed -- there are none.  However, I clearly overdid the 'pixie dust' (mica) --...

Oh Dear, now what....


Here I am out of the kiln... my fear re bubbles has been allayed -- there are none.  However, I clearly overdid the 'pixie dust' (mica) -- making for a grainy surface.  Also the idea of  detail coming through from the first layer didn't happen.  What to do with it now.... I could dust it with clear grit and throw it back in the kiln to create a smooth surface -- then add detail.... or.... I kind of like the flip side... maybe I can do something with that....

 

I will ponder this .....

       

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Unicorn - next step

This unicorn is stretching me to risky experimentation!!  Evil horse!
I started by painting on some white sparkly pixie dust (mixed the frit with Klyr Fire as medium), then added some black highlights - which don't show up very well in the pic...  This will be sandwiched between the 2 layers of glass.  Danger here is that the pixie dust is a resist and the individual particles will only bond to glass it is in direct contact with -- soooo I'm hoping I don't get a lot of big bubbles...



The second layer of glass goes on top -- secured a bit with hair spray.  Now I've added fine and powdered grit (glass) to add some color and shading (hopefully).  I will throw it into the kiln for a full fuse and keep my fingers crossed...