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THE MAKING OF TALIA |
            
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This is the story of "The making of Talia".
With her parents' permission we will follow through the various stages
of creating a Portrait, and maybe you will get an insight into the many
stages involved in the task.
 Pauline works with earthenware clay, and uses photographs to sculpt the initial likeness. (ears come later!)
 Pauline takes great care to sculpt the features of "Talia".
 When we are happy with the likeness, Bob makes the mold. Often two or three molds can be made before we are satisfied with the result. It is not until the mold is poured, dried, cleaned, fired and painted that we can see if the work is up to standard.
 Here the mold sit and air dry. This can take several weeks during the Australian winter!
 The poured, and partly painted, porcelain likeness is compared again to the photographs.
 We noticed a few things that could be improved, so the mold is poured using ceramic slip, and it is back to the sculptor's table to perform a few little alterations.
 Talia's parents Vanessa and Darren look over the work to date, and give their approval. At this stage we decided to sculpt her head onto a shoulder-plate. Pauline re-sculpted, and Bob made another mold.
 Occasionally (thank goodness it is only "occasionally") we can break a piece during the cleaning process. This is heart breaking as there has been so much work put into the piece by this time.
PAINTING: Once the greenware is cleaned and fired there is a long painting process. The detail and colour is applied, and fired in several layers. Each new paint application requires a firing in the kiln, so it is a very time consuming task. Also, by this stage we have had our wonderful Oculist match the eyes, the wig has been made using as close to matching human hair as possible - (sometimes we are lucky enough to be able to use some of the child's hair in the wig), and the clothes and shoes have been made.  Talia is amused by her double. The work is done, and Vanessa & Darren get to take home a likeness of their little girl. |
