Friday, June 18, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Wall Relief: Start to Finish
Forewarning: Contained here below is way more info than you wanted to know, but I want to remember, so you're stuck with the whole story.
Months ago while searching for a nice Madonna and Child plaque to go above the girls' beds, I came across this one:
Even though the detail wasn't easy to see from the photo, I could see enough to know I would love this particular representation - the folds of Mary's dress, the crown braid in her hair, the closeness of the Mother and Child's embrace. I'd never seen this image before, but I loved it. So I ordered two of these plaques online, thinking I would mold and cast them in resin on an oval background, similar to this (to echo the oval centerpiece on the girls' mirror). Unfortunately, when they arrived I realized the reliefs were much too small for what I wanted, and somehow the plastic didn't capture the detail I'd hoped. So I tucked them into a drawer and decided to put this whole project on hold until I could figure something else out.
Less than two weeks later, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this antique plaque on a table at a local garage sale!
So much about seeing this relief seemed providential - First, I never go to yard sales. But this particular Saturday I happened to pass by a sign pointing to a sale in one of my favorite neighborhoods, and just thought I'd do a drive by. Second, could it really have been the same Madonna and Child I'd loved? The one I'd only seen once before? I still don't know the sculptor/artist (if any of you do, please comment!), and haven't seen it since. Third, this relief was already framed on an oval background, and at 12 x 10 it happened to be the exact size I wanted for the girls' room. Is that amazing or what?
the silicone mold, made from the original above:~
detailed close-up:
~
the first casting: Cast using a mixture of marble powder and resin (the marble powder gives it a more statue-esque appearance and feel). Below is the relief in it's raw, unpainted, unglazed white state. To be honest it is much more beautiful this way. The unfinished casting has a perfectly matte texture.~
Here she is below, painted in ivory and glazed in raw umber. I couldn't leave the plaques unfinished for the girls' room, because the white wouldn't have matched their mirror (also finished in ivory and raw umber). My biggest mistake with this project was having used a satin finish paint, giving the plaque an undesireable shine. But I'm happy enough with it to leave it as is.
~
The image below better represents their accurate color than the one above.~
Whew. Now that I've bored you stiff, have a great weekend!
Months ago while searching for a nice Madonna and Child plaque to go above the girls' beds, I came across this one:
Even though the detail wasn't easy to see from the photo, I could see enough to know I would love this particular representation - the folds of Mary's dress, the crown braid in her hair, the closeness of the Mother and Child's embrace. I'd never seen this image before, but I loved it. So I ordered two of these plaques online, thinking I would mold and cast them in resin on an oval background, similar to this (to echo the oval centerpiece on the girls' mirror). Unfortunately, when they arrived I realized the reliefs were much too small for what I wanted, and somehow the plastic didn't capture the detail I'd hoped. So I tucked them into a drawer and decided to put this whole project on hold until I could figure something else out.
Less than two weeks later, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this antique plaque on a table at a local garage sale!
So much about seeing this relief seemed providential - First, I never go to yard sales. But this particular Saturday I happened to pass by a sign pointing to a sale in one of my favorite neighborhoods, and just thought I'd do a drive by. Second, could it really have been the same Madonna and Child I'd loved? The one I'd only seen once before? I still don't know the sculptor/artist (if any of you do, please comment!), and haven't seen it since. Third, this relief was already framed on an oval background, and at 12 x 10 it happened to be the exact size I wanted for the girls' room. Is that amazing or what?
the silicone mold, made from the original above:~
detailed close-up:
~
the first casting: Cast using a mixture of marble powder and resin (the marble powder gives it a more statue-esque appearance and feel). Below is the relief in it's raw, unpainted, unglazed white state. To be honest it is much more beautiful this way. The unfinished casting has a perfectly matte texture.~
Here she is below, painted in ivory and glazed in raw umber. I couldn't leave the plaques unfinished for the girls' room, because the white wouldn't have matched their mirror (also finished in ivory and raw umber). My biggest mistake with this project was having used a satin finish paint, giving the plaque an undesireable shine. But I'm happy enough with it to leave it as is.
~
The image below better represents their accurate color than the one above.~
Whew. Now that I've bored you stiff, have a great weekend!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Madonna and Child Relief
I finally finished the molding and casting project I started months ago and had Patrick hang the reliefs up on the girls' wall yesterday. I couldn't be happier with the outcome. The finished reliefs captured all the details I'd hoped they would.
a close up (click on the image for detail)
in the girls' room
I'll be back to post more of a start-to-finish (with pictures) in the next few days. Now that I have the mold I can cast many more, so other than making these as gifts I'm brainstorming other options. Let me know if you have any ideas. Interestingly, I was working on these madonna & child plaques the moment we got the call that our son was to be induced - that very day (I still find that symbolic). I dropped everything to scrub paint and glaze off my hands while trying to book Patrick and I on the next flight to Georgia. :)
a close up (click on the image for detail)
in the girls' room
I'll be back to post more of a start-to-finish (with pictures) in the next few days. Now that I have the mold I can cast many more, so other than making these as gifts I'm brainstorming other options. Let me know if you have any ideas. Interestingly, I was working on these madonna & child plaques the moment we got the call that our son was to be induced - that very day (I still find that symbolic). I dropped everything to scrub paint and glaze off my hands while trying to book Patrick and I on the next flight to Georgia. :)
Monday, June 7, 2010
Firsts
With a new baby there are lots of "firsts" - first diaper change, first bath, first outing, first smile. They're all milestones to a new mother, all exciting, important moments.
Yesterday was a first for my Kilian....a first procession. On one of my favorite hillsides in the world. On Corpus Christi Sunday. The beauty of "firsts" has never seemed more sublime, to this mother.
Yesterday was a first for my Kilian....a first procession. On one of my favorite hillsides in the world. On Corpus Christi Sunday. The beauty of "firsts" has never seemed more sublime, to this mother.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
In Pictures: First Week Home
enamored
handsome dude
the park
baby portrait
daddy's boy
in love with grandma
feeding...
...and more feeding
thinking
lots of loving
typical scene - unshowered and still in my pjs at noon :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)