Post #628936 by swizzle on Fri, Mar 16, 2012 1:35 AM

Thank you Wendy.

Thanks MadDogMike. That's what i was thinking i'd use it for also. I thought i'd cut the mouth out of one mug just for the hell of it but after i realised about the glaze it became the perfect candidate to try it on.

Thanks to you too Scallywag. I really like your skull mug. That bottom part is a tip i picked up from Maui Tiki and i'm pretty sure Wendy uses that technique now also. I must say that it's a great idea although my mold does tend to leak a little bit in that area. I'm not sure if that is more to do with how (badly :lol:) i made the mold or if it is something that will happen regardless. When i get around to making another mold i want to try something different i have in mind but it is a good way to achieve the sunken section with your name in it and i could end up going back to doing it that way if what i have planned doesn't work how i want it to.

So today i picked up a few more mugs. I'm happy with the colour combinations, however i am still having issues with the glaze being patchy due to the visibilty of brushstrokes. I finally got around to spraying a mug with my new air compressor the other day and i'm extremely anxious to see how it is going to turn out. I was very happy with how the coverage looks on it after it was sprayed, but until it is fired i won't know the results. I'll take it in next week then i'll have to wait another week to pick it up.

Here's the first mug with both colours the new brand glaze i'm using at the moment.

Dusky Pink and Pumpkin.

Mauve and Dusky Pink.

I tried something different with this mug but it didn't work out exactly how i wanted, although i must say i had no idea what to expect at all, i just thought i'd experiment. I can't remember which colour i used first -one coat of each- but i do know the last layer was my own mixed purple. (That's what happens when you glaze drunk. :))

Mauve, Dusky Pink, Purple and Purple.

I still have a few mugs that need glazing and also a couple of others that have a bit of a twist to them that need to be bisque fired. I'm quite happy with the added detail on these and look forward to finishing them and also peoples opinion on them.

Now for those of you that noticed, i changed the title to my thread. I must admit that i have two bad habits. (I'm sure people that know me would say that i have plenty more. :wink:) One is that i procrastinate, the other is that i never finish work i start. Well i do finish it eventually, but i tend have to have an idea, start it, then have another idea and start that without finishing the other one. The following is an idea that i've had floating in my head for a while now and only recently got started on. I'll eventually post pics of some of my paintings here also. The owner of the Tiki Lounge and Bar here wants me to do an exhibition, i just need to finish all the paintings that i've started.:roll:

A friend of mine is a signwriter with the contract for a large hardware store here. He gave me a stack of off-cuts of MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard) that he uses for the fit-out of each store, and i finally pulled my finger out of my bum and got started on this idea after i bought a scroll saw which was essential in allowing me to do this work.

I found a font i liked on the internet and have cut out a few sets of the letters ready to go. I have a few ideas of backgrounds that i intend to try/use which i will show in my exhibition and also hope to sell if people are interested. They will be able to pick a style and i will paint everything in the colour of their choice. The pictures below are of the very first one of these that i've made and is for me. I will add hooks on it to hang all of my pendants off.

This is the template for a hibiscus flower. As i said, i have another pattern/shape that i will use and also incorporate into the design.

Here is the template for the font i chose.

The background for the sign with the hibiscus outlined and masking tape where the letters will go so that when i glue the letters on they will stick to the wood instead of straight onto paint.

This is the background with an undercoat of acrylic paint. If i paint straight onto the MDF, it soaks it up and i lose the gloss finish. The flower has been masked off to avoid overspray but has an undercoat on it where it is needed that you can see in the next picture.

Here is the sign with the basecoat. The black was done with an aerosol can and the aqua for the flower was painted with 1 Shot Enamel.

The letters also have an undercoat of acrylic and have been spray painted.

I have to cut out the petals on the flower, sand and paint them, then glue them on along with the letters. I'll post pics when it's finished.

Thanks for looking.
swizzle

[ Edited by: swizzle 2012-03-16 02:33 ]