Site last updated on July 7th, 2010
Artisan: Sheila Brandon
I have been living in Lake Bluff since 1989. I have always loved to paint outdoors in watercolor and oil. Recently I have started to use acrylics too, mostly working from photographs of subjects with a real emotional connection. I enjoy watercolor painting in Italy and go each year, traveling over from Poole in England since I visit my family there several times a year.
For the last eleven years I have used my skills learned in art school to make my original handmade ceramic fruits and vegetables. These have been very well received at local Art Fairs and charity events.
I make all my own molds. They are filled with soft slip, I then remove the items when the clay is still soft and I fill in the pouring hole. When they are completely dry the green ware can be painted and then fired in my own kiln. Many pieces are fired several times at Cone 03, after each firing I can gradually add more layers of color. The finishing glazes require 2-4 coats and are fired only once at Cone 06.
The lifelike fruits and vegetables are mostly fired without a filling hole since I do not want to spoil their natural appearance. The larger pieces need a tiny hole so that they do not explode during firing.
