China Painting for Night Portal Series

China painting is one of my favorite things to do in the studio. Using mixes with fine pigments and essential oils is so pleasurable! I add layer after layer to animals, flowers and insects. There is a whole array of bats, moths, nocturnal flowers in the studio right now.
The work I do is very elaborate in it's assemblage. First one has to come up with the concepts. Once this is cohesive, I then sculpt the birds, animals and plants. Cutting out dozens of leaves and parts for each plant and then braising the copper foliage. Once big rings are made, I proceed to gold leafing. Every week I am picking up carved wood discs from the engraver while ordering last minute supplies.
And now finally once some pieces are fired in their porcelain high fire, I can begin one of the best parts of the process...china painting!
Today I painted bats, moths and nicotiana and datura blooms.