I sculpted the figure using Soldate 60 clay slabs over my fabric & stuffing armature. The head and torso were created first, and then then the butterfly “ears” were added. The sculpture was then wrapped loosely in plastic and left to dry slowly, for 1-2 weeks, in a “damp box” (i.e. an old refrigerator that no longer works, but keeps things moist.) Then it was placed on a shelf in the studio to continue drying slowly. Once it’s dry and chalky to the touch, it’s called “greenware,” and it’s time for it to be bisque-fired which will enable it to hold it’s shape while I paint on the under glaze colors.
The bottom right photo shows the first thing I did, once she was bisqued-fired: I apply stains to her face and ears, which I mostly wiped off immediately. (I like the way the residue clings and peeks through the under glazes which are applied next.) The photo in the middle on right, and the 2 on the left, show her face once I’ve applied the under glazes using Japanese paintbrushes and sponges.
For 2 days, I carefully applied under glazes to the wings. (Her eyes & lips have not disappeared: I’ve painted them with clear glaze over which I’ve applied liquid wax. The glaze will make them shine, and the wax protects the eyes so my sleeves don’t accidentally smear the butterfly under glazes onto the eyes & lips while I’m working.) Using a regular pencil, I drew where each color was supposed to go by looking at a photo of a real butterfly. Each color has 2 coats of under-glaze applied. It took 4 hours to paint the fronts of the wings, and another 4 hours, the following day, to paint the backs.
I added her cap and dress, and then a layer of clear, matte glaze, so she’s ready to go into the kiln!
And here she is FINISHED.
