As a pre-Conference teacher, demonstrator and Vendor, at Fandango I have lots of time to play in clay. If who've not yet had the pleasure of going to The Orlando Clay Fandango you can expect to learn a great deal. Attendees are in classes all day learning from amazing teachers at the retreat. You will learn during the day and the evenings will let you relax with fun filled events and demos.
There are usually a few folks who come to the retreat and don't take classes. They are in the same room as the vendors and demonstrators. As a demonstrator we are provided with a table for me next to our sales table where I can demonstrate our products, demo and play in clay.
Lois and I at the retreat - photo by Sara Pietruk |
When it comes to Bottles of Hope, Lois is your gal. After spending some time talking about Skinner blends and doing a demo of an Illusion Leaf Cane it was decided to use some of the cane for a BOH. Lois and I poured over some reference photos and mixed colors for a bluebird body in three colors. After all, a blue bird perched on leaves should make a nice BOH. I hoped to create a soft Skinner blend from white to rosy rust to blue. It worked. I did a demo of first the blend then the sculpting a bluebird with a blended breast, neck and head. Lois was very helpful and fun to visit with.
Bluebird of Happiness - Bottle Of Hope
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The base was covered with scraps from the leaf cane and covered with leaves. The background was textured for depth and added details. Having no letters for imprinting a word, a Peej Pick was used to dot the letters "H", "O", "P", & "E" into the yellow centers of the flowers. A tiny bit of dark paint helped to bring out the letters.
Above is the finished Bottle Of Hope which was
given to Lois when baked and cooled.
The finished design was signed before baking using
dotted lines to make my signature letters + the '14 for the year.
As usual, Fandango was absolutely wonderful! Seeing
old friends and making new ones is always a joy.
Yours,
Penni Jo Couch
Designer - Sculptor - Writer - Teacher
creator of
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