From Skilled Hands

Part of the Whole

By fromskilledhands ( January 15, 2009 at 3:40 pm) · Filed under Art, Craft, Porcelain tiles

I like making fans. The form of a fan is complete unto itself, and yet it is part of a circle.
Kind of like being a human. Here are some porcelain tiles that I have made. The designs are carved in porcelain clays and fired to about 1700 degrees F. Then colors are inlaid into the carved areas, the excess is removed and the glaze is applied. The piece is then fired to about 2200 Degrees F. Sometimes the pieces require multiple firings so that they are ready to be framed. This process makes the layers of glaze, which are actually fused glass, sing.

The rich earthiness of the brown glaze and the harvest tones of the fan suggested a quiet Earth to me.
Midnight

This glaze reminded me of the color of the sky at night, that inky blue that is like velvet.
Silence

Even though the blue is bright, the piece has a quiet nature.

These tiles are available for purchase here.

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11 comments »

Lisa Kenney said,

January 15, 2009 @ 4:32 pm

These are just gorgeous!

Laura/centerdownhome said,

January 15, 2009 @ 4:54 pm

I love the shapes and colors and textures, Debra. They’re just beautiful.

Eryl Shields said,

January 15, 2009 @ 5:17 pm

I always think I don’t like blue, and then I see blues like those and remember that I do.

rudeek said,

January 15, 2009 @ 8:00 pm

Well, they’re beautiful pieces. I love the middle one best. On another note, I received your package today and all of the pieces are beautiful. Thanks for the added treat! I was going to give the spiral earrings as a gift and decided when I saw them, to give them to me! I’m amazed at how many meals they bought!

fromskilledhands said,

January 15, 2009 @ 8:41 pm

Thank you, Lisa. I love making fan tiles. I love the form and that it is like us, a whole AND a part.

Hey Laura. I love texture and the challenge of creating dimension on a flat surface.

Well, Eryl, the sky is blue. It reminds e how much I love the color.

So glad you liked your pieces, rudeek! I thought the spirals would be a good fit for you, and I am glad you liked the wee giftie. I love the colors in the middle tile. I can’t remember what glaze I used for the fan, so I could never reproduce it.

Cat B said,

January 16, 2009 @ 9:25 am

Beautiful work, Debra, and I love the idea too of the whole and part! Must be nice to be working around a kiln on these frigid winter days!

AnnieH said,

January 16, 2009 @ 12:08 pm

Just received our pottery pieces. What a way to cheer up a cold winter’s morning. Hope we can cheer up some of the many who do not have a warm home. Blessings.

Larramie said,

January 16, 2009 @ 2:31 pm

There’s such a peaceful beauty to your art, Debra, you must LOVE to work.

Erin said,

January 16, 2009 @ 6:02 pm

These are beautiful! Love the blog – so much quiet looking out.

teeni said,

January 17, 2009 @ 1:06 pm

I’ve always loved fans too. I especially love the folding kind – such a genius little invention and handy to have in the purse (when I was younger, I used to love them only because they were so pretty and were such a girly thing but that was before I ever had a hot flash). LOL. I love the colors in your pieces here though – they do remind me of how I once loved fans merely for their beauty. There is always more to appreciate.

Mary said,

January 17, 2009 @ 2:57 pm

I love fans for their beauty and because of the childhood memories they evoke. My Dad brought back some fans and kimonos from Japan after serving as an Army Medic there during WWII. For a special treat we were allowed to use the fans and wear the kimonos when I was growing up. The artistry within them is beautiful and I see the same beauty in your tiles. Thanks for sharing them.