Ceramic Fat Birds

A newly hatched clutch of ceramic bird sculptures have emerged overnight… I call them Fat Birds.
This one is app 16 cm x 12 cm

This Fat Bird is a bit smaller; 13 cm x 10 cm. I am not sure if she is feeling surprised or perhaps indignant?

This stargazing Fat Bird measures 15 cm x 12 cm.
The bird sculptures are hand built and only the eyes are glazed with traditional glazes. I use Botz brush-on ‘Koralle’.
I add a bit of copper, manganese or  iron oxide, and then the sculptures are  smoke fired in my galvanised dustbin. This is why they all have such different patina; it is down to the smoke and what it does with the the metal oxides.
I usually pack the smoke chambers (erm, dustbins!) in the afternoon or evening, and then leave them to smoulder all through the night. They are usually cool enough to unpack the next day.

To see more Fat Birds, please visit my website http://annakeiller.com/portfolio/birds/fat-birds/