Lazy, Crazy, Hazy Days of Summer !

Sitting outside today enjoying the summer sun my Blog Maker snapped this shot of me!

In a few more days (February, when schools resume) I will begin teaching porcelain art classes again. My days of sitting quietly in the sun, reading, and being free of a routine are nearly at an end.

It has been enjoyable painting when I am in the mood, instead of painting when I can find a free space in my week. I am sure all you other teachers know exactly what I mean!


I love my students, and look forward to another wonderful year with them. May 2008 be all that each one of us would hope it to be ...... May the God of Peace keep our hearts and minds as we live in a world full of turmoil.

A Bowl of Cherries

I painted this still life last year - the border has several coats of torquoise lustre (which turned out more blue than torquoise!) and then mother of pearl swirled on with my finger. The border catches the light as it is viewed at different angles.
Cherries are in season and in our shops right now ........... I would like to paint this design again using a deep maroon colour instead of the red in this painting.

Isabella and me!

Isabella and Emily (her mum) came to visit today,
so of course we had to take more pictures of her.
She is now 4 months, dribbling lots, and nearly sitting up and rolling over.
What a delight to see a little girl learning all these basics of life!
If you look at a previous posting you will see the porcelain box I painted for her with her birth details on the bottom of it.

Comet McNaught

Exactly a year ago, Comet McNaught was clearly visible for several evenings in our part of the Southern Hemisphere. This painting is not an exaggeration but a true representation of how it appeared in the sky over our home in Tauranga, New Zealand.

The bottom hills are grounded in black paint, the grey sky multi-grounded with various grey metallics.

The stars and the comet are clear enamel with gold powder mixed in to it.

Stunning eh?

Class Project

Here is an interesting class project on 8" bone china!

Each student chose a different design to be painted on the gold bands.

It doesn't show very well in the picture, but each gold band has a design of raised paste underneath the burnishing gold.

What fun!

Aren't these fun glasses? The lens are likened to a slice of our local fruit called Kiwi Fruit.

I painted them for an exhibition held in a town called Te Puke which is about 30 minute drive from where I live. This area is called "The Kiwi Fruit Capital of the World", and most of New Zealand's Kiwi Fruit are grown here. The tile was purchased by a local visitor within minutes of the exhibition opening.