This wall mounted piece is soda fired. All the decoration was done with colored slip. In the soda kiln the sodium dissociates from the carbonate and acts as a flux on the surface of the clay. Originally the piece was all yellow, orange, and red. The reaction caused the face of the fish to flush bluish purple and faded the yellow eyes. I love the gradations of color but am not as fond of the glossy finish which is often described as “juicy”. I am planning a large version of this piece that includes the body because I think the fish himself is quite glorious.
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