Resting Dragonfly

[Kev]

This is a trial piece pre "In For The Catch" pieces yet to come. I decided to do a trial piece using some of the glass I have chosen for the eagle pieces, and trying the frit method for the water to see if it will give me the effect I am looking for in the other panels. It's more cost effective to try it on a smaller scale first, rather than making 2 large panels and finding out it's not what  I am looking for.

It started with a pale amber base to add some warmth. The black border was applied to retain the frit in place as well as a compliment to the upcoming dragonfly. ...though I may decide to do it in dichroic. The wings will be iridized clear with possibly platinum luster detailing applied to them. The lily pad was laid on top of large pieces of frit wih spaces between them to allow it to slump somewhat giving it a bit more movement to the pad itself. After the frit in different colors were laid in place, it appeared too open, so I sprinkled fine frit in a few of the shades to fill in the spaces.

The dragonfly will be tack fused on top of the pad, and I might add a blossom..not sure yet. Clear bubbles will be tack fused in place as well. Paint detail may also be added.

Might be a total mess...lol....time will tell.

Kev

[Kev]

More pics....

[nansea121]

Mmmmmmm!!! This should be interesting to watch on how this will unfold.

[Anne]

are those nuggets you're making Kev? for bubbles? This looks interesting.  Great idea, looking forward to seeing it come together too.

[Kev]

Yes Anne.... I am making some clear nuggets for bubbles, from 1/4" - 3/4".

[Glassic]

Upon metamorphosis it can rest in my fish room anytime!

[Kev]

LOL

[Becki]

Looks like you're off to a good start.

[JoanFrances]

love that blue frit looks like this will be another thread that will be very interesting waiting for each and every new adventurous part

[Kev]

I'll be interested in seeing it myself. At least if it's a flop, it's a small flop.

[Judy K]

If it's not already cooking,  put a few chunks of clear on the lilly pad . At full fuse you will loose the wavy texture on the lilly pad by firing it with the blue back. Unless your plan for the blue was a contour fuse. But a few chunks of clear on the lilly will give it that random ripple you are looking for.

[PiscesGlass]

I highly doubt it will be a flop, I bet it's going to be fab. 

De

[Kev]

Too late Judy...LOL. I did an almost complete fuse as I was also making some bubble nuggets at the same time and also a few special order pendants. It did lose most of the waviness I was hoping for, but I don't think it was going to be what I had in mind anyway. I'll add some shading to it with paint. The water is almost smooth, but has just a very slight dimension to it, that I suspect will be lost with subsequent fusings, and that's ok. Smooth water is cool. I may add shading to that as well with some paint like I did with the Bubblefishous piece.

[ct4mom]

Cant wait to see the outcome and I dont think it will be a flop either!!

[Kev]

I took it out of the kiln this morning. Not was I as looking for at all. First off the choice of colors is not the best, though for the eagle panels I had planed on steel blue which I did not add to this panel. Even that in itself would still not give me the look I want. I suspect I will use just the steel blue for the eagles on a clear base and cut the pieces to fit then fuse. For this experimental piece, I should have used a cathedral green for the pad, as an after thought occurred to me that the opal I had chosen might be too dense...and I believe it is. The blues I used are are much to light, and the aqua is too green. I think with a few coats of black paint to really darken it down it might have a chance, otherwise, no big loss, and good information was gleaned from the process. Once I get it cleaned, I post a pic so you can see what I mean.

[Becki]

I'm glad you did a test piece to work this out...now you know.  Putting pieces together in the kiln that need different firing schedules is never a good idea especially when some need a full fuse and you're looking for more contour on another.  You don't usually get the look you're going for as one or the other will either be underfired or overfired.

You'll get this worked out!

[Audrey]

This should be a very interesting piece to watch. Very smart to test it small first. You;ll work it out. You always do.

[Barbara]

The testing was a smart idea. This will be interesting to watch this unfold

[Kev]

This was the result. I'm OK with the fuse, but not real happy with the overall appearance. The bubbles look great BTW.

I was going to just pitch it, bu then thought...why not try some paint on it and see what happens. For the eagle panels, I will be cutting and piecing the glass as I did with the Koi panel.

The first pic below is what it looks like out of the kiln.
The 2nd pic is with the paint matt applied.
The 3rd pic is with the paint partially removed and ready for the kiln again.

The pics do not really pic up the colors very well, though without the paint it looks very washed out. It actually loks pretty cool from the backside at least pre firing. It will be interesting to see what it looks like post firing. Depending on ho it turns out will determine whether or not I spend anymore time and effort on it, as it was a test piece to begin with.

[Kev]

..I peeked in the kiln...talk about FUGLY......I think the dragonfly needs to find another perch cause this one is headed for the trash...lol