So...today I glazed a lot of my stuff. And if things turn out like crap...I will glaze everything "clear" next semester I SWEAR.

So this is what I did:

My three deer figurines were simply glazed "khaki" which = brown pretty much. I honestly forgot the exact details because I have never used khaki before. I just know overall it is brown. Brown is good.

My petal dish thingy...I glazed that "Twilight Blue" with "Purple Haze" in the center. Purple Haze better show up!!!! I expect a dark navy blue with pretty purplish blue awesomeness in the center.

I glazed the star dish thing "Clear" with "Twilight Blue on top. I expect a medium blue out of this.

And then I glazed my leaf candle holder with "Matte White" before "Reitz Green". I expect a light green.

Then I glazed a crappy little shoe that I made in 2 minutes for the hell of it...in Reitz Green and added just a dash of purple haze at the top of the shoe. I might not even work out.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST.

My vintage wedge shoe figurine is probably one of the most complicated things glaze wise. There is about four steps to this.

1. Glaze top Matte White
2. Scrape the glaze that is out of bounds
3. Use wax resist to paint dots on the matte white parts
4. Dip the top of the shoe in Khaki
5. Dip bottom in Matte White.

If this shoe doesn't turn out right I think I might literally have a stroke.

I am glad that CN wasn't invading the entire space I really don't like needing to glaze near CN because that = conversation, awkwardness and fibers of my soul dying.

I like to make things on occasion in ceramics but because Ceramics I tainted things...I think it ruined the chances of me "loving it". There's that and the fact that I really hate glazing. I'll love something I made...but then the glaze turns out like crap and ruins the piece. I can't handle something I worked hard on to be destroyed by crappy looking glaze. I try and try to get the glaze right...but I am cursed to fail. Something ALWAYS goes wrong. Even if I am doing something simple. Usually the things I make call for complicated glazing rituals rather than a simple dip in one fool-proof glaze.

Anyway...because of my constant disappointment...I developed a phobia of glazing. I haven't glazed anything this entire semester until today when other people I know wanted to glaze. For some reason...today was the day EVERYONE wanted to glaze which was sort of annoying. Anyway.

Below is the story of the disastrous downfall of one my most liked pieces:


I attempted glazing my 1920s boot. I wanted the heel part and toe part to be "Satin black" which is basically a glossy black. I wanted the rest to be "yellow salt" which is a cream/yellow color (the teacher said it would look good). So what I was told to dip the whole shoe in yellow salt. Then to put green wax on the part I wanted to remain yellow salt. Well...the glaze covered up the sections of the shoe. So I ended up waxing out of bounds >< then the teacher said I would have to fake the line and that it would look like a mistake. Later I asked if I could just scrape the wax off. And he said ...that since the wax was on top of glaze and not bisque ware that it would work out probably. So that's what I did. THEN...I dipped the boot in satin black and I tried to wipe off all the excess glaze that was sitting on top of the wax with a sponge. Little did I know that I hadn't put the wax on long enough ( didn't remember hearing the teacher say how long to keep it on...but I assumed 15 minutes would be ok). So then he was like "Oh no you are wiping the wax off...I could tell it didn't register to leave it on longer". Then later...I tried to save the shoe and carefully remove the chunks of glaze off later when the wax was more dry. Then the wax started to chip off and I couldn't tell if it took some glaze off because the glaze is the same color as bisque ware pre-firing. SO I had to throw some glaze on the patches...and hope for the best ><

Yay I am so excited because spring semester was rough. I think I say that every semester. While Art History is never troublesome, I had a lot of work in womens history such answer chapter questions amounting to five pages complete with footnotes and a bibliography every week. There was also questions I had to answer on the discussion board as well...I hate discussion boards.

Then there was 3D art...not exactly my favorite class to say the least. The hardest thing I had to make was a bust out of fiberglass foam and it nearly killed me! I worked on it for almost a month, struggling with knives and saws to cut all the pieces while wearing a mask that took me a while to get used to without hyperventilating. I had to glue everything with a toxic smelling glue from the hardware store, smear on joint compound, gesso and paint the bust...it was just a lot of work. I am going to take a pic and put it up here as well as some other things from that class.

Lastly I had Ceramics II. I am crappy at the potters wheel so I mainly hand built things besides the accidental ash tray which I threw. I was in the mood this semester to make "accessories" like shoes, purses, hats etc. Unlike Ceramics I I got a lot of compliments (unless people were just trying to be nice out of pity). I am happy with some of the things I made. Maybe not will the glazes for some things but oh well...I've got to just accept the unpredictably and imperfection of glaze.

This summer I want to photograph my artwork from Drawing I, Drawing II, and Life Drawing. I have portfolios filled with artwork! As much as I like the convenience of computer art using Corel IX and Photoshop the truth I am at my best using old fashioned pencils, paint etc.

I want to start drawing in my sketchbook again and work more on my digital painting. Hopefully I can reach a point of major improvement instead of being stuck in a rut.

= more drawing

I think I've found a "style" of drawing using Corel Painter X that I like...which is a good thing. It's taken me years to find a "system" to work with. I've looked at tons of tutorials and for the longest time I couldn't find one that "clicked" with me but a couple have really helped me.

For the longest time I also couldn't find the right brushes/blenders. Right now I know that I like to fill in the base colors of a sketch using Airbrushes: Tiny Soft Air 5. I use Tinting: Soft Glazing 15 for shading and highlights, and either Blender: Just Add Water or Soft Blender Stump 10.

My problems now are proportions! Always have been. I need to use my Art S. Buck Male & Female mannequins, look up pose tutorials, magazines etc for references or else I cannot draw a person very well. I still have problems even with references that I usually notice when its too late. Sometimes I wonder if its a perception problem, I do have some spatial issues because of dyscalculia but I have no idea if it affects my drawings. Something will always be off, one eye will be bigger or higher up than the other, an ear will be too big, a person's legs will be too short...its always something. Very frustrating I hate to admit it but Life Drawing, as traumatic as it was helped me subconciously.

I know for sure that I will always hate drawing hands and feet!!!!!

I want to draw more wedding dresses in the near future...

This is my new gallery...yay.

Thanks to all who have favorited my artwork. I am bad at sending personal thank yous because I am a little shy and I kind of just upload, go on a favorite adding spree. I never know what to say to people...other than thank you. I wish there was something more I could express.