Nailed it (well almost)!

Nailed it (well almost)!

Dog & Bone (Spider's head corners)

 Here's the results of my most recent tile trials. And I think I've pretty much nailed it!

Drawn with blue cobalt oxide on-glaze paste, mixed with a gum arabic/ water solution, using a dip pen (after I'd abandoned using a fine brush - too unwieldy). The thinking behind this was to create a better flow and also a little adhesion to the glazed tile surface.

Fired for me, very generously, by the wonderful Rob Ryan and his team.

There has been a little bubbling of the marks in places, seemingly where I'd over-worked the washes that I applied (a day) after the outlines. But I don't think it detracts from the overall look at all (if anything it has a certain charm). Lighter, more deftly applied washes should avoid that occurring so much in future...

All said, I'm pretty chuffed. Feel that I'm now in a position to proceed with securing a few hearth-back commissions. The Bommer Delft tile workshop is now (nearly) open for business!

Here they are before firing...

Unfired

 

 

 and after a night in the kiln at around 800º C...

Fired

I've nibbed the edges a little in places and rubbed ashes into the surface crackled to further antique them.

Amor Vincit Omnia (Love Conquers All) with fleur-de-lys corners

Sanglier, with stylised fleur-de-lys corners

Elephant (Martin Lane), stylised fleur-de-lys corners

Fruit Bowl, with fleur-de-lys corners

Magpie (One for Sorrow), spider's head corners

Fluvius Tamesis, ox-head corners

Triton or merman, ox-head corners

Vase of Flowers, spider's head corners