Saints

I have been reluctant to post progress on the saint portraits for the Chamberlain project. Mostly because the progress is so slow and not a lot of change occurs until the end. Which is where i am now. Maybe 2 more firings for each portrait and they will be completed. I am working on their banners which should most likely be completed this weekend as well. March 1!

In a prior post the drawings were approved. From these drawings I trace the lines and begin shading the glass by matting the pieces. this requires painting the entire piece then removing the paint with scrub brushes (a special brush for this technique) which leaves areas of shading that later will show enhancement as I add pigment for skin color. St Anthony is done in sepia tones throughout, where St James will have a lot of coloring. The portraits found of the 2 saints are for 2 different eras of time and the time was wished to be kept in an accurate depiction. Hence the two different looks. I am not sure if I should show a timeline for the project or post a beginning and middle then final. Anyone working in glass would like to see the progression, but it is going to be lost on anyone not working in glass and totally a confusion for laypersons. So, I am going to do my best with this and put it up. I know Susan is probably going crazy with wonder about her project and being out of the area, for you Ms Susan...enjoy the progression of your endeavor...

Sample

This is a sample box for the Laura Ingalls Wilder Farm Museum in De Smet, So Dak.

I painted her portrait for the lid and

then did a sample of a journal for the box bottom.

So the words peek through, representing Laura as an author.

My hope is to be accepted into the gift shop at their museum.

Box Work

This is the Faerie Box. And closeup of the Butterfly Faerie. She is created with lead solder, to take whatever shape I desire using just the tip of the iron and different heat temperatures, I tap it to shape.

Bevels comprise the box with a gem for color decoration. then finished with more decorative soldering on the seams.

New Box Work

I had Janet do some paint practice on the mermaid lid. She practiced her fusing with the other 2 lids. I finished the boxes but, soon she is going to learn decorative soldering to add to her skills.

Finished Mosaic

Vicki finished her mosaic pot here is the big boy!

Beads

Here are some of her finished pieces and she gets better everyday!

Lampworking Beads

Janet is working at the torch creating beads.

First Stain on Glass

Janet has been steadily advancing in glass. Beginning her study on staining glass. Using stain for glass is more than "just Painting". A small ground crushed glass substrate mixed with pigment ore or mineral and flux has an added binder such as oil or gum arabic and an agent to mix it all using a palette knife the mix is cut and ground then made ready to use on glass. Using a brush the mixture is added to glass in the desired pattern then fired in a kiln when the mixture melts into the glass becoming new glass. Kiln knowledge is also acquired through these lessons, they will come in handy during fusing and sagging exercises. For now using the kiln makes the stain permanent to the project. Janet is still learning about soldering so I finished the box for her but, her next project she is making her own box. Isn't she advancing along well though.