One Project leads to another

Hello!  Did you ever finish a successful project and then eventually have it be the start of another one?  Last November, a friend and I were discussing coloring books and how they are a big hit.  Both she and I came up with our own visions of designs, with mine being more in the mandala vein. We launched our books before Christmas and both were successes with our distinct patrons. 

Recently, I published a second edition Meditative Mandalas with 5 bonus drawings and in the meanwhile while seeing the original drawings again, thought it would be a fun idea to recreate in full color the patterns on my large bowls and platters. 

Armed with my one-sided paper print outs, a stack of 20 or so designs are lodged in my studio waiting to find the perfect piece to meld themselves. 

It starts with a pencil drawing, sketching out the basics of the design.

It starts with a pencil drawing, sketching out the basics of the design.

After the basic grids lines are laid down, I start visualizing the colors in my head and apply the Mason stains on the raw white majolica glaze base.  

Little by little the colors and lines come together. With black as the last major color applied. The white lines are carved back to the white base glaze.

Little by little the colors and lines come together. With black as the last major color applied. The white lines are carved back to the white base glaze.

Finished! (except for firing)  The outside of the bowl is just as detailed.

Finished! (except for firing)  The outside of the bowl is just as detailed.

Of course, once I started this, I had to create others from the book.

A sort of bird themed mandala.

A sort of bird themed mandala.

Hexagonal flowers on a large platter

Hexagonal flowers on a large platter