Lazy Chickens

It took our chickens longer to lay these eggs,

than the time it took for me to paint an order of Delft Tiles.

An order for a newly renovated bathroom.

Three eggs is all they laid in two days. 

We have a dozen hens, normally each hen will lay 2 eggs in three days.  

But they're on strike because it's so cold.

   A few questions to ponder while you have nothing better to do.

Are brown eggs more nutritious,

do they contain less cholesterol,

do you think that a hen house needs a rooster,

do you know the body temperature of a chicken,

which breed of chickens lay the most eggs,

which breed of chickens lay blue eggs,

why are grocery store eggs white,

what is a pullet egg,

what is a capon,
how many eggs does a chicken lay in a year,

And most importantly, do they taste better?


The fascinating truth about chickens will be told in a couple of days.

Have a happy week my dear 

Blogging Friends.

Gina 



Tools of the Trade

All of my brushes tell a story.  They come from different parts of the world...and I was there.

(Partial Repost, October,2009)



You have to hold them just right, you have to slow down your brush stroke, you have to mix the pigment-to-binder-to-water just so.  This style of painting is called Delft in Holland, Faience in France and Maiolica in Italy.

Of all the brushes I own, these 2 brushes are the most special.  The brush on the left was given to me by artist Alberto Lunghini of Ferrara, Italy.  If you join the locals on their evening Passeggiata you will go right by his beautiful ceramic shop. 

The brush on the right, with only a few hairs at the tip for very fine work, was a gift from the head painter of one the oldest companies in Holland.  The company has been making hand painted tiles since 1594. 

While I was at the factory, I noticed that each painter worked with a slightly different, although similar brush.  You can't buy this brush.  Is is made by each painter.  And this is how:

You must befriend your Butcher.  If he likes you he will give you the ear from an Ox.  You can then pull out a few of the hairs from the ear, then find a whole bunch of hair from a sable and then you have to figure out how to attach all of this to a handle.  Or, you can wrestle your cat for his newly caught mouse and proceed as above. 

Now you know why that brush is so special.

My Father taught me how to take care of a fine artist brush.  These brushes will last me for the rest of my life.  I won't have to make friends with the Butcher (unless I want to) nor do I have to steal a mouse from Stanley, our gentleman cat.

Have a great remainder of the week my dear

Blogging Friends.

Gina

While it rained I painted

Finally, cool refreshing rain.

Flowers are growing.

So are the vegetables.

And the flower boxes.

A new kind of Petunia.

And old Favorites.

While it rained I painted for a special order.  We live in the "Beehive State."  Bees are popular around here. 

Picked red currants in the rain and made syrup for pancakes.

Potatoes, peas, squash and sunflowers are growing on the
"Back Forty".

The sun is out this morning.  My favourite hoe is waiting for me.

Weeds are not particular, they grow rain or shine.

Have a great week my dear

Blogging Friends.

Gina

You can't tell

But my tile came out of the kiln crooked.



I fired it too hot and too long.  It looks all right from this angle so I get to keep it. (Remember, I get to keep all rejects).

My Father never kept pieces that were not perfect.

It was a "ceremony" when he had to destroy one of his carvings.

Now you can see the problem.

The Albarello, to the left, you might think should be considered a reject.  No so.  I deliberately made it look old. 

I could frame the above tile (as I have done here) and no one would ever know that it is crooked. 

Have a great week my dear

Blogging Friends.

I'm still toiling in my garden.

Gina

It was a big Day!

And it was a very successful day.

Made money for the old School restoration

and a little money for myself.

An early morning stroll through the historic center of Deruta, Umbria, Italy, with my camera last October.
Thought you might like to see how the Italians do it.

Have a great week my dear

Blogging Friends

FRAMED

Framed for Heritage Day Celebration Sale.

My favorite hand painted tiles were framed.

What do you think?

Will our visitors like them?

Can't wait to find out.

This coming Saturday our town is open for Heritage Day Celebrations

Astrantia, Hellebore, Forget-me-nots and Perennial Bachelor Buttons. 

So, what do you think? 

Have a great remainder of the week my dear

Blogging Friends.

Gina

Should I or shouldn't I

Go through my door

and work in my Garden on a Sunday?

Or

should I stay inside

 and paint

 And paint and paint

And paint some more for Heritage Days,
only 6 days away.

Enjoy your Sunday

my dear

Blogging Friends 

The crown collection

Are you of Royal Birth?

I'm not either, I don't think.

But that doesn't stop me from eating with royal plates.

I continue to paint in my new minimalist style.

Mostly white with a little ornamentation, what the Italians call Bianchi or Faenza White Style.

However, just as the Leopard can not change his spots,  I can not ignore color all together.

Simple or Fancy, to set the table with "a uniquely yours" Crest Plate, is very affordable. 

Come for a visit and I will show you how to paint your own or I will paint them for you.  All you have to do is ask. 

 This Urn is waiting for your Initial, maybe even in Gold.

Have a great week my dear

Blogging Friends.

Gina

See how Easy

A few days ago I posted a tablescape.
http://ginaceramics.blogspot.com/2012/03/sandwich-bag-flower-arangement.html

 On the table was a small French Moustiers Plate

My Friend Mark, of All Things Ruffnerian

http://allthingsruffnerian.blogspot.com/

noticed it right away. 
He wrote "I like the almost calligraphy-like brushwork"

That gave me an idea.
Why not copy the design and this time paint the images onto Dinner sized plates.

First you smooth out the surface of the once-fired clay (bisque) plate with sandpaper.  Then, center on banding wheel and draw a pencil circle (helps center the design).

Transfer design onto plate with Saral copy paper.
Paint design.  Brush on clear glaze.
Pencil lines and red transfer lines will burn off during firing. 

Now ready to go into my Kiln

Plates on several bottom shelves and smaller items on top.

In the corner of my basement the kiln  has almost reached 1800 degrees.  It will shut itself off.

The firing took 8 hours, then cooled for another 10 hours.

The small perforated plates are original, hand painted French Moustiers Plates, the Dinner plates are only one day old and hand painted by me. 

Would you like to learn how?

I will be teaching several 2-day workshops in June, July and August.

No prior experience necessary.

Have a wonderful weekend my dear

Blogging Friends.

Gina

The Year that was - Part II

Never imagined that I would be so fortunate.

And travel to Europe every year.

All ceramics by Gina

To paint ceramics at the Scuola d'Arte in Deruta, Umbria, Italy.

If you have always wanted to do something special, this might be the year for you...I hope that it is.

Gina 

Third time must be the charm!

That is what the very talented and charming Theresa of

 Art's The Answer said.

I was commissioned by Theresa to paint an Armorial Plate for her.

This is the picture Theresa sent of her family crest.

This is my first drawing.

Theresa apologized for the complexity of the design and added that I could simplify it.  She did mention that I should include the "Lions because they would symbolize Firenze to me as well as me being a Leo".

This is the first plate I painted,  ready for the first firing.  Theresa also asked for diagonal stripes, three dots (for Medici Family) a checkerboard and family initial to be drawn within the shield.

 After gold was applied and plate was fired for the second time I noticed quite a few pin marks at the margin of the plate.  The glaze and the clay were not compatible.

Second Plate.  See the pink shadow at the bottom of the crest?  It appeared after the second firing.  It takes too long to tell you what actually happened. Suffice is to say I learned a valuable lesson.

So I added (only as an experiment) gold lines over the pink shadow to see what would happen. Into the kiln for the third time. Interesting, but no. 

 Third Plate.  All is well.  This is it!  Theresa's Armorial Plate. 

Have a great remainder of the week my dear Blogging Friends.

Gina