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This little fox is fast asleep in a cozy spot in the forest among the evergreen branches. In the winter, evergreens symbolize strength and endurance, as they remain green and full of life in the winter months. Foxes are clever and adaptable, also finding ways to thrive in winter months, their red fur striking and beautiful against white snow. Vuvu Ceramics is actually named after the scientific name of the red fox, Vulpes Vulpes. (My first name Deana, pronounced DEE-na is from Old English, after the word dene which is a small wooded valley… a fitting match for this piece!) 🌲 With this ceramic sculpted jewelry dish, I wanted to capture that moment between winter and spring, a place of safety and peace, a shelter touched by a little fairy forest magic. The little fox figurine is sculpted by hand from the same clay as the dish. After I sculpt the fox figurine with my hands, I join it to the clay, so that it becomes one continuous piece with the rounded dish. I slowly dry the clay and then fire it at a lower temperature in my kiln to harden the clay. At this bisque stage, the clay has hardened, but is still porous, so that it can accept any stains and glaze. The foxes painted with a bright orange underglaze, and the black details are also added with an underglaze. The white of the fox is the natural warm white color of the stoneware clay. If you’re wondering what an “underglaze” is, it’s fluid brushable color that is applied “under glaze”- usually under clear or transparent glazes (glaze being a layer of glass after fired in a kiln). It’s a way of adding bright controlled colors to kiln-fired ceramics. Underglazes contain highly pigmented stains and oxides in a thick paintable form. These pigments are selected to withstand the high temperatures of the kiln (for my pieces this is approx 2230°F …red hot!) Underglazes are more commonly applied to green/raw clay but I prefer applying it to bisqueware (clay that has already been fired) along with pure stains and oxides that I mix with water. Have you tried ceramics or pottery before? It’s fun hearing that some of you have been inspired to try classes! #foxart #evergreen #ceramics #sculpture #artwork #fairycore #vuvuceramics
