I think that foxes are incredibly beautiful and I became somewhat obsessed with them a few years ago.
We live in an older neighborhood that’s within the city limits, yet it has large older trees and huge yards – most folks have at least an acre of land. So our houses are not right on top of each other, which is great for having wildlife live among us. I’m not a fan of the coyotes but I love seeing the foxes, especially if there are kits involved. The times that I have seen them have been mostly driving to work, when it is still dark out. As a child, I had always thrown foxes in the same category as wolves and dogs but they really have some beautiful feline features – beautiful long legs and snouts, quick and agile like cats. And the shock of orange fur is just so gorgeous. I also love the fact that they eat problematic rodents and squirrels. Let’s just say I’m a big fan.
In 2019, I starting creating low relief tiles with a stylized fox design. I only made one larger tile and I carved sunflowers in to the background. I used a brown speckled clay and white and orange underglaze. Once the piece was bisqued, I then painted on black underglaze, wiped off areas, and glazed with a clear glossy glaze. I made several smaller fox tiles where I did not carve into the background. I did have some glazing issues with these pieces, which unfortunately happens from time to time. I was never able to fully figured out what the clay, underglaze or glazing issues might be. I do seem to have better luck with white clay, especially as far as color intensity goes. Maybe I’ll revisit these tiles at a later date.
After creating the fox tiles, I wanted to create more fox pieces. During the winter of early 2020, I took a sculpting class from a friend who taught us how to use pinch-pots to basically create anything and everything. It really opened up my mind and imagination. My first fox did not make it – the tail broke in the bisque firing. Which actually turned out to be a good thing because I so much happier with the next two foxes.
They were more realistic, more what I was going for, and I had more experience and confidence working on them.
Because of the breakage I wasn’t able to glaze fire the first fox but did use marine epoxy to put him back together. He lived on my porch until I found him broken completely. I’m guessing it was the fault of our squirrel friends.
I absolutely fell in love with my second red fox. He turned out realistic and fun. I really babied him throughout the sculpting process to avoid any breakage – I was especially worried about the thin ears drying too fast and then breaking. Everything worked out and I love him!
A friend suggested creating a gray fox. So I stuck with the same “template” and fox body style as previous and just changed up the color of the underglazes. I really tried to baby the sculpting process of this fox as well. Unfortunately after the bisque firing, I bumped the tip of his left ear on something and it did break off. Not all is lost though, I think he looks like he maybe went through a rough patch. I totally get it.