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VUI always find it so satisfying to press leaves into clay and see the detail of their beauty in new ways. Here I’m pressing nasturtium leaves into ceramic clay. Nasturtium is often thought of as ordinary and common, but this humble plant has extraordinary beauty. Isn’t the leaf beautiful with its intricate patterning? It comes back in my garden by itself year after year. And right now is the season that it loves here in San Diego, the cool weather of almost-spring. It’ll thrive from now until the start of summer. It’s a plant that is happy in no ideal conditions and even in poor soils. It’s a good lesson for blooming beautifully no matter where you are planted.
It doesn’t actually grow in a heart shape, but I decided to play with the shape a bit and cut them into little hearts- my ode to how much I love this plant. After pressing each leaf in clay, I pull them away to show the intricate pattern. I color the imprints with ceramic stains, then glaze, and then I fire the pieces in a pottery kiln. The high temperatures of the kiln vitrify the clay and melt the glaze - the glaze transforms into a layer of glass that seals the ceramic and creates the shiny surface. The gold is real gold, also fired in the kiln #botanical #art #satisfying #pottery
@vuvu_ceramics
