My Desktop

Here's a look at my modelling/rendering work space for those of you who are interested.

...and a hint at what I'm working on next. I use the open source Art of Illusion for almost all of my rendering work. It's free! and has a great community supporting it.

Tide Pool Render Finished

I think this will be the last render.

It took about 36 hours to render at 6000x6000 pixels. I may do some cleanup in post, but NO MORE RENDERING!

Fusion Cross Finished

Here's the cross after firing the glass...

I'm not crazy about it. As for the opaque colors, the yellow and sky blue don't work. The purple is not too bad. The translucent colors blend in too much but they kind of work. The blue grotto glaze went more to a metallic brown. Not sure I like it.

Fusion Cross Part 3

Added some crushed glass or frit to the sections.

It's in the kiln and ready to be fired again for glass temperatures. I used some pretty mismatched colors of glass with some opaque and some translucent. We'll see how it turns out.

Tide Pool progress - Almost Done

Ok. Had to zoom out a little to fit everything in. 

Also made it cooler color in the water. Added anemones and another shell. Worked on the shoreline foam. I think it's about done. Maybe a few adjustments on the water and sand. Still thinking about a rock wall on the left. What else?

Fusion Cross Part 2

Here's the current state of the fusion cross with the blue grotto glaze after firing.

Now I can add glass to the sections.

Tide Pool WIP

I added the seaweed, a sea urchin, a horseshoe crab, a small school of fish, some random bubbles. I also moved some things around a bit and brought in the shoreline.

I think it's still getting better, but I don't want to clutter it too much. I still want an anemone or two if I can squeeze them in. The shell is getting lost; I need to boost the color and maybe add another shell. I also still want to churn up the water on the shoreline a bit more. Please keep the suggestions coming. Thanks!

The Star of the Pool

More work on the star...

I'm thinking maybe a horseshoe crab and/or some anemones. Maybe a fish or two. Seaweed? Any other suggestions?

Red Starfish

Here's where I'm at on the starfish. Added a lot of environment and better lighting. Oh and the starfish has red knobbies now.

I think I upped the realism quite a bit. I worked longest on the foam, but it's really subtle.

Blue Starfish

Here's a starfish I'm working on to go along with my seashells.

Colors and textures are not final. It has a skeleton (virtual) so I can reposition the arms easily. Any suggestions on coloring or environment?

Raku Jewelry

I'm thinking of having another raku firing soon. Here's some raku jewelry pieces I made a while back. I need to decide which, if any of them, are worth putting on Etsy. I also have no idea what to charge. Any advice or comments appreciated.

Ceramic/Glass Fusion Cross

I'm making this ceramic/glass fusion cross. What is that? you ask. Well stay tuned...

First I take the ceramic cross and paint it with a glaze. This glaze is called "Blue Grotto." It's not very blue yet. (Note the sections--hint, hint).