Ok, so it's hot outside and summer continues here in super-sunny Southern Arizona.... so started our Frog Days of Summer sale! Why not have some fun and add a frog to your patio, garden, planter, or hand one on a wall? These guys are cute, some really funky, and best of all - they are ALL on sale for only $20-25 each plus I will ship for free in the U.S.
I have to admit - we went a little crazy being cooped-up in the air conditioning all day and created some unique amphibians :o)
Have a great summer y'all! RIBBIT !
Friday, July 31, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Ceramic Art - It's a messy business!
Unless you have had first-hand experience in school or at a recreation program making your own ceramic pieces, then you may not know the process in making ceramic art. I thought you might like to see a glimpse of how we make our ceramics....
The type of ceramic art we produce is called "slipcasting" because we use natural liquid clay made in the United States and this type of clay is called "slip" and the method of pouring it into preformed molds is the "casting" part.
Here you can see the plaster mold that shapes the bunny
The two parts of the mold are held together by a large rubberband
The slip (liquid clay) is poured carefully into the mold
The mold must sit with the slip inside for approximately 1/2 hour until the correct thickness of skin has formed - too long and the piece will be extremely heavy or even solid, which is no good, or if not enough time and the piece will be too thin and brittle.
The slip that remains liquid inside the mold is poured out and re-used for more "pourings" later
After the mold sits and drys for a few minutes, the spout skin must be removed, leaving the characteristic hole in the bottom of all slipcast ceramic pieces.
After about a 1/2 hour more, you un-band the mold and very carefully separate and lift half of the mold straight up - if not done correctly, the piece can be dented or even ruined.
This bunny is poured to a correct thickness and since the top of the mold has just been removed, the set clay is very wet and the piece must wait another 1/2 hour to dry more fully so that it can be lifted from the mold without mis-shapping or damaging it.
Now that the bunny is cast, it must sit to dry for at least 24 hours before the next step - cleaning.
Because there are two parts to the mold, a seam running around the piece must be trimmed off the fragile, dry piece and then a wet sponge is used to smooth the seam until it can no longer be seen - possibly the messiest part of the process since the dry clay forms a fine dust that gets everywhere when being scraped off, in spite of one's best efforts to keep the dust down!
After cleaning, the piece is finally ready to be painted, fired in our electric kiln to approximately 2,000 degrees F, which brings it from the "greenware" stage to "bisque" stage. Firing time lasts for about 5 hours, but cooling takes at least 8 more hours. There is no way to cool faster, and if you do then the pieces themselves will crack and can even completely break. After cooling, the bisque piece is glazed with finishing coats and then fired again to bring it to a glossy finish that will never fade or wear out.
The average piece of ceramic art takes a minimum one week to pour, clean, paint, fire, cool, paint again, fire again, cool again and then - voila! - you have a ceramic piece created by hand start to finish! It's a messy job working with the clay, dust and I'm not even going to mention that I tend to glaze myself as well as many of the pieces...hehe.... but I love it!
The type of ceramic art we produce is called "slipcasting" because we use natural liquid clay made in the United States and this type of clay is called "slip" and the method of pouring it into preformed molds is the "casting" part.
Here you can see the plaster mold that shapes the bunny
The two parts of the mold are held together by a large rubberband
The slip (liquid clay) is poured carefully into the moldThe mold is a very dry plaster and as the slip sits in the mold, the water from the slip is drawn into the plaster and a type of skin starts to develop, sticking to the inside of the mold.
The slip that remains liquid inside the mold is poured out and re-used for more "pourings" later
After the mold sits and drys for a few minutes, the spout skin must be removed, leaving the characteristic hole in the bottom of all slipcast ceramic pieces.
After about a 1/2 hour more, you un-band the mold and very carefully separate and lift half of the mold straight up - if not done correctly, the piece can be dented or even ruined.
This bunny is poured to a correct thickness and since the top of the mold has just been removed, the set clay is very wet and the piece must wait another 1/2 hour to dry more fully so that it can be lifted from the mold without mis-shapping or damaging it.
Now that the bunny is cast, it must sit to dry for at least 24 hours before the next step - cleaning.
Because there are two parts to the mold, a seam running around the piece must be trimmed off the fragile, dry piece and then a wet sponge is used to smooth the seam until it can no longer be seen - possibly the messiest part of the process since the dry clay forms a fine dust that gets everywhere when being scraped off, in spite of one's best efforts to keep the dust down!After cleaning, the piece is finally ready to be painted, fired in our electric kiln to approximately 2,000 degrees F, which brings it from the "greenware" stage to "bisque" stage. Firing time lasts for about 5 hours, but cooling takes at least 8 more hours. There is no way to cool faster, and if you do then the pieces themselves will crack and can even completely break. After cooling, the bisque piece is glazed with finishing coats and then fired again to bring it to a glossy finish that will never fade or wear out.
The average piece of ceramic art takes a minimum one week to pour, clean, paint, fire, cool, paint again, fire again, cool again and then - voila! - you have a ceramic piece created by hand start to finish! It's a messy job working with the clay, dust and I'm not even going to mention that I tend to glaze myself as well as many of the pieces...hehe.... but I love it!
Monday, July 6, 2009
The Wild, Wild West
We are located in Casa Grande, Arizona, about half-way between Phoenix and Tucson, which is one of the hottest and windiest places in the U.S.! It amazing that anything can survive (and thrive) in this climate. Right now, it's 110 degrees F outside and I am staying inwith the air conditioning! :)
Our shop is located next to a beautiful mountain and we are fortunate to have incredible sunsets almost daily...
There is such diversity here.... rabbits, jackrabbits, ground squirrels, quail, snakes, lizards, road runners, prairie dogs, coyotes, and of course desert flowers, mesquite trees, saguaro cactus and even purple colored cactus are all seen here throughout the year.
Rabbit in Mesquite
White Lined Sphinx Hummingbird Moth at our Honeysuckle Bush
Being in this rural location is such a treat and indeed some of our work is inspired by the nature and scenes of the Southwest. We thought it would be wonderful for people to be able to bring a little of the Southwest into their homes, patios, gardens, even some red-hot chilies to spice-up your kitchen...
Red Hot Chili Peppers - bring on the heat!
Classic Symbol of the Southwest - Steer Skull & Rattlesnake
and one of our very favorite pieces -- hanging on my living room wall as we speak....
Horse Whisperer Shadow Caster discovered at chriscrooks
Our shop is located next to a beautiful mountain and we are fortunate to have incredible sunsets almost daily...
There is such diversity here.... rabbits, jackrabbits, ground squirrels, quail, snakes, lizards, road runners, prairie dogs, coyotes, and of course desert flowers, mesquite trees, saguaro cactus and even purple colored cactus are all seen here throughout the year.
Rabbit in Mesquite
White Lined Sphinx Hummingbird Moth at our Honeysuckle Bush
Being in this rural location is such a treat and indeed some of our work is inspired by the nature and scenes of the Southwest. We thought it would be wonderful for people to be able to bring a little of the Southwest into their homes, patios, gardens, even some red-hot chilies to spice-up your kitchen...
Red Hot Chili Peppers - bring on the heat!
Classic Symbol of the Southwest - Steer Skull & Rattlesnakeand one of our very favorite pieces -- hanging on my living room wall as we speak....
Horse Whisperer Shadow Caster discovered at chriscrooksI love this "Horse Whisperer Shadow Caster" made by Chris who we actually met at a local arts and crafts show in Tucson this year! He does great work and I was thrilled to see his work on Etsy.
Hope you will follow-along as I embark on my next blog project... posting the process of making ceramics start to finish. It's a messy business, but we love it!
Hope you will follow-along as I embark on my next blog project... posting the process of making ceramics start to finish. It's a messy business, but we love it!
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