Sgraffito Birds
I used clay, black underglaze and clear glaze for both birds. The first bird is off an emu, and yes that is how an emu looks lying down, they look like their melting. Anyways, the second bird is of an Australian bush turkey. The turkey isn't as anatomically correct as the emu, as it just has the turkey vibe to it. At first, I was only going to make the emu but I finalized it before other classmates so I choose to make another. I choose the emu because they are an Australian folk tale that talks about the emu and how the bush turkey convinced the bird to clip its wings, in spite a few years later the emu convinces the turkey to kill all his kids but one or two strong ones. Not only did this story fascinated me but it gave me a chance to use aboriginal patterns while doing sgraffito. Most of the patterns on the birds have meaning, you will find one pattern on both, the spinifex grass, located on the underside of the turkeys tall and on the side of the emus head. On just the emu you will also find a print of what looks like footprints to a puddle, this pattern was used to show where the emus went to drink at a watering hole. The last pattern on the emu is the cluster of markings on the upper back, it is men hunting. The pattern is to show 3 men sitting by a fire with there weapons. The only other pattern or symbol on the turkey is on the outer tail and it is of bush turkey tracks.
I used clay, black underglaze and clear glaze for both birds. The first bird is off an emu, and yes that is how an emu looks lying down, they look like their melting. Anyways, the second bird is of an Australian bush turkey. The turkey isn't as anatomically correct as the emu, as it just has the turkey vibe to it. At first, I was only going to make the emu but I finalized it before other classmates so I choose to make another. I choose the emu because they are an Australian folk tale that talks about the emu and how the bush turkey convinced the bird to clip its wings, in spite a few years later the emu convinces the turkey to kill all his kids but one or two strong ones. Not only did this story fascinated me but it gave me a chance to use aboriginal patterns while doing sgraffito. Most of the patterns on the birds have meaning, you will find one pattern on both, the spinifex grass, located on the underside of the turkeys tall and on the side of the emus head. On just the emu you will also find a print of what looks like footprints to a puddle, this pattern was used to show where the emus went to drink at a watering hole. The last pattern on the emu is the cluster of markings on the upper back, it is men hunting. The pattern is to show 3 men sitting by a fire with there weapons. The only other pattern or symbol on the turkey is on the outer tail and it is of bush turkey tracks.
At first I didn't want the emu to be so droopy but the clay wouldn't hold, but I had to make it work, and in the end, it is pretty accurate. The turkey was easier but I struggled to make the tall. bush turkeys are lean and have tails that go start up, so it was difficult to make that somewhat accurate. When we got to the sgraffito I enjoyed scratching and adding more texture, even though I couldn't think of cool ways to fill the empty space. The only thing that went wrong with that part was that I put to much black glaze on so when a stretched it would sometimes fling off. Than with the clear glaze, I didn't use enough so the birds are spotting. In the end, I'm very happy with the end product, especially because I thought for sure I was going to break one.
At first I didn't want the emu to be so droopy but the clay wouldn't hold, but I had to make it work, and in the end, it is pretty accurate. The turkey was easier but I struggled to make the tall. bush turkeys are lean and have tails that go start up, so it was difficult to make that somewhat accurate. When we got to the sgraffito I enjoyed scratching and adding more texture, even though I couldn't think of cool ways to fill the empty space. The only thing that went wrong with that part was that I put to much black glaze on so when a stretched it would sometimes fling off. Than with the clear glaze, I didn't use enough so the birds are spotting. In the end, I'm very happy with the end product, especially because I thought for sure I was going to break one.
