Pinterest Inspirations

Two nights ago I was being lazy or I can use the excuse I was recovering from a 4 day bout with flu.  Anyway, I sat semi-watching a movie on Netflix and perusing Pinterest.  I stumbled across a pin that led me to the blog of Megan Chaney.  Her clay artwork, inspired by nature, put some ideas in my head.

Last night I came home, got the kids in bed and disappeared to my studio and "let my hair down".  I made a stoneware tile.  For once I didn't calculate the shrinkage and try to make a tile that was in standard 4" or 6" size.  I used the slab roller for a nice uniform thickness and then I used an old plastic texture plate for faux wood grain.  I textured the tile and then broke out the oak leaves.  One I imbedded in the tile, the other I put a layer of clay on the back and randomly made it appear as if it was dropped on the tile.  I free-formed an acorn and used thin pieces of irregular clay to make a patch of bark.  One area I used raised clay to give a little flame pattern seen in oak lumber.  I used a bit of iron oxide on the barkish area.

This evening I came home and refined some areas.  It's a a bit of abstract tile.  I'm anxious to add it to my kiln that is almost ready for a bisque firing.  Right now I'm meditating on possible glaze/finishing techniques... I may have to look for more Pinterest inspirations!

Bone dry clay... ready for any last finish touches and a bisque firing....