After making my flower-inspired garden masks, I really wanted to continue making and carving masks, but with a different underglaze color and theme.
I’m not sure of the exact moment I decided to carve luna moths but the previous flower masks made me thing of other garden creatures and when I choose the green as my underglaze – luna moths entered my brain. I’m thinking of doing additional masks with more garden bugs and insects – maybe some lady bugs next.
I really enjoyed making these masks. I know my pieces aren’t super realistic but that’s okay and I’m happy with them. When I look back at my pieces over the past 10+ years, my modeling of facial features has improved. Some of my previous pieces – especially the noses and mouths – are somewhat wonky and oversized. I think I created the previous pieces too fast and rarely stopped and stepped back to look from different angles and distances. Stopping and stepping back helps to keep elements and proportions in check.
This was the first time I’ve used this color underglaze (Amaco Velvet – Cactus); I just bought it last month. I have to say when I saw the first mask after the glaze fire, I was taken aback – I didn’t realize it would be so bright! I had seen a test tile and I thought it would be darker. But after just a few moments, I fell in love in with the color. The brightness is such a great contrast to the red clay and black underglaze.
Both of these pieces are Highwater Earthen Red clay body, with Amaco Velvet – Cactus underglaze application, carved moths, then bisque fired, and finally black underglaze and a clear glossy glaze were added for the final firing. Again one of my favorite things about this clay body is when the clear glaze breaks blue over the red clay and black underglaze areas. <3
Again, love finding the blue areas.
