To fire or not to fire!

I have these two bisque Eberl “Esperanza” spanish mares in the studio, and I decided to sell one of them (which I did). Then I got all inspired to glaze the other one. I decided to try something which has so far frustrated/eluded me in chinapainting: dappling with a paintbrush. (Rather than the airbrush.)

First I airbrushed on two smooth layers of base color and fired that. I’m doing this directly onto the unglazed bisque, and had to add a matting agent to the overglaze paint to keep it matte. (The default on these overglazes is glossy.) Then using a drybrush technique to paint on the dappling, the photo shows the result so far. I can only do this on a matte finish because it has “tooth” to grab the paint. I have tried and tried something similar with a glossy finish and the paint just slides around. It doesn’t get that soft grainy look you want with realistic dappling. It looks a little shiny because the paint is still wet.

The above is not my usual “look” or painting “style.” I can’t decide whether to fire this and continue to darken it (it will be a bay). To fire or not to fire, that is the question!

Earthenware china Optime in bay for sale

I’ve just finished glazing this earthenware china Optime Arabian stallion, in a shaded, almost “sooty” golden bay. He has two stockings and a strip of white on the nose with a little spot. This is the 28th china Optime I’ve glazed in a custom color, and only the 3rd in earthenware. I am asking $650.00 ppd for him. No time payments, and payment via PayPal is requested.

There are lots of photos on this page.

I’m heading for the mountains tomorrow so this is the last china to be glazed for awhile. I am taking the Optime with me all boxed and ready to ship to the buyer. I’m bringing my oil paint box and a couple canvases, and the Roundabout sculpture, in case I need something to do up there. They got more than a foot of snow this week but the major ski areas aren’t scheduled to open until later in November so we will just be getting to know the condo and exploring the area instead. Maybe I’ll see if the kitchen is equipped with all the right stuff to cook a full Thanksgiving dinner!