This Fella

Here is a dog I have just recently finished working on.  He will be a ring bearer, who has a pillow with a ring strapped on his back while adorning a classy bow tie around his neck.  This piece was a lot of fun making trying to capture and angry expression on his face. Overall I am fairly happy with the results of this guy.

Bad Dog!

Here is my latest piece that I have been working on.  This guy is almost done and with him I am starting to think more about some of my older work and bring some of what I liked from that into this newer work.

Almost done

So hear are some pictures of the dog I have been working on.  I really have enjoyed making this piece because of the fact that I get to make folds and everything I liked about my older work.  Constructing this piece solid is something I am also very excited about. By building solid it is a lot easier to get the right proportions and the look I want out of a piece.  

New Piece

Here are some process shots of my latest piece I have been working on. This piece has been a real treat for me to work on because I feel as if I am playing around with the folds and such that I enjoy so much within the realm of this new idea.

Some stuff

This is my dog on a ball piece all finished up and ready for the bisque firing.  Trying to avoid multiple firings forced me to apply many of the colors before the first firing.  Hopefully by doing this I can avoid  at least one firing.

This piece bellow is Ernie and he is all finished except for reupholstering the chair. I am pretty happy with the colors that are on him. This was an experiment to see if I could use the same techniques that I had been using to finish my porcelain pieces on red earthenware clay.

Progress

I am getting closer to finishing this piece I have been working on. He now has a tail, some eyes, teeth, and a tongue. Over all I am currently semi satisfied with this guy and have learned a lot about how I want to work while building this piece.

"I do it for the snacks"

This is my second attempt at making a poodle on a ball begging for snacks.  This attempt I decided to sculpt him solid instead of hollow building. I really enjoyed working this way because I felt as if I had a lot more control modeling and could manipulate the form easier if necessary. 

Start and then rebuilding

So over the last week I have started a piece that is going to be a poodle on a ball begging for snacks. My first attempt at this piece I tried to build him hollow and then lower him onto the ball, which in the end he did not look right or want to sit on the ball. On my 2nd attempt at this piece I am going to try and sculpt him solid directly attached to the ball hopefully eliminating the awkwardness of his legs looking terrible.

Stuff

Here is my big cat almost all finished up.  This piece was a challenge for me learning how to build a standing figure. At first I was extremely frustrated and stressed about how to make this guy, but when all said and done it wasn't too bad. When this guy is finished he will be displayed with his back to the viewer leaning one paw against a mirror.  The idea behind this came about by thinking about how we treat animals as if they are humans. This guy is trying to shave his body in order to try and fit in with his human companions.

Some Finished Work

These are two pieces I have finished recently.  I am fairly happy with the way they turned out.  By layering stains, oxides, underglazes, and glazes I am able to get the look that I want out of my pieces.  The wheels and seat of the dog are both done using paint (Spray paint and acrylic), which I feel are working very well.

Big Cat

I have been working on a big cat that is standing on his back legs.  This has been one of the more difficult pieces I have built and I have learned a lot about building a standing figure.

Doggie Bag?

Here is a piece that I have been working on the past week or so. Not too sure how I feel about it yet but it was really fun to model the face on this guy. This piece is also much larger than I usually work with porcelain, so...we will see if it will survive. 

Almost done

I have been working away on my cat and he is pretty much wrapped up working we just have to get him bisqued and finished.

Progress

I have been working away on my cat over the past week and I am really enjoying working at a larger scale then before.  So far I have been enjoying working with the red clay and have been doing a few tests in order to figure out how to finish it.

Here is a picture of wheelie dog in progress of being finished. He has at least one firing left before he is finished and gets his wheels.

Inspiration and Red Stuff

Over the weekend I have started a new piece using a new red clay body.  I decided to try and use a earthenware clay on this piece because I wanted to try and work at a larger scale. By switching from porcelain to a new clay I hope to avoid cracking and mass amounts of shrinkage.  So far I have not minded using the red clay, but I am kind of nervous as to how it is going to look finished.

Ernie! One of my roommates and the inspiration for the piece below.

Pointer Pointing

Here is piece I have been working on for a little bit now.  The idea behind this is, why would a dog that is typically used for hunting be dress up in a ridiculous outfit?  I really don't know how I feel about this piece yet...I am not particularly thrilled by it, but I do think I learned a lot about how to move this new work forward.

Finished Up Some Goodies

I have finally finished some of the newer work I have been playing around with. Overall I am relatively satisfied with the way both of this pieces turned out.  Both of these pieces were fired multiple time building up layers of underglaze, stains, glaze, and oxides.  Also by the end of these two piece I have learned a lot about sewing from making the pillow and the belts.

Double Dog

 Princess