Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Golden Eyed Garden Goddess


One of the hardest things for me is trying to decide how to glaze certain pieces. Sometimes I have an definite idea, but other times I have no idea which glaze would complement a piece. While the kiln was firing I was hoping the lips on this golden eyed garden goddess didn't turn out too red. You know what I mean, kind of garish red. Somehow I just couldn't make the lips green. Boy did I luck out this time.

Not only that, but one of the leaves broke off when I was sanding it before the glaze load and I patched it back on with the vinegar slip and it held! Doubly lucky for me. As I look at the piece I think I could have glazed the flowers the same color as the lips, maybe I'll make another one and try that.


I remember studying Greek and Roman mythology in college and was fascinated. I loved the stories surrounding the myths and the gods. I've just been reading in Greek mythology the three Hesperides or nymphs were keepers of a garden which contained the tree with golden apples. The glow from these apples were thought to provide the light and brilliant color of sunsets. Now I find it interesting that I chose to make the eyes of the garden goddess gold in color along with the pink lips. Stay tuned for more pots from this firing. Also we took a short trip to the sponge docks in Tarpon Springs and to Honeymoon Island. Thanks for reading and for all your comments.
©Linda Starr

7 comments:

  1. Hi

    The goddess looks GREAT! I like the color of her lips very much. "The Garden of the Hesperides"?! It sounds so intriguing. I'm wondering what plants were planted there apart from the Golden Apples.
    I'll soon have a vacation. Have a lovely summer, Linda!

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  2. Good morning Sapphire, thanks, I think you would love reading about Greek and Roman mythology, the golden apples were supposed to give eternal life as well so the nymphs were supposed to guard them from being taken by just anyone so they could be saved for the gods and goddesses. Have a great vacation I am sure you will have much to post about on your return.

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  3. Oh Sapphire, don't you think the goddess has a bit of a masculine look to the face too? Sort of a yin and yang embodiment all in one?

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  4. The lips look great. Red and green are opposites on the color wheel so they really pop. The hair in red would look good too.

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  5. Love the Goddess and the lips are PERFECT!!

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  6. It really looks great and agree that the flowers matching the lips would have been perfect.

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  7. Hi Lori, thanks, I might make another one.

    Hi Kate, thanks, I like how the glaze turned out.

    Hi Patti, thanks, yes sometimes seeing the photo shows me how pieces could be changed.

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I love suggestions, questions, critiques, thanks for your comment