Fused Koi Pond 12 x 18

[Barbara]

It looks great Kev.  I like what you have done and it looks like the branch shadows belong there.  Love it!--B

[Kev]

Thanks Barb!

I too actually like the addition of them to the piece.

[crazyone]

I know I am reading this very late. So was it the thickness of the bubbles that caused the cracking? Or because they were fired down so it actually wasn't laying flat on the kiln shelf? (laying on the bubbles)

But it came out beautiful. You are so talented Kev.

[Kev]

The difficulty began after the bubbles were applied. I should have taken more time with it. Once the bubbles were applied, it was harder to work the paint, so I opted to paint it from the backside where it was still flat....not a good idea. I figured the panel would bend a small amount from resting on the bubbles (which it did), but when I flipped it back to flatten it out again, it cracked. I think my fusing schedule might have been a little too aggressive as well, so I slowed it down some. If I were to do it again, I would either take the time to work the paint around the bubbles, or just simulate their presence with the paint and avoid that problem to begin with. It does look cool though seeing the added dimension of the bubbles.