Finally some new images from my Tropical Woman series

[Raphael Schnepf]

Here are the two most recent pieces. I am working larger since I have the Bigger kiln. The first one "Himba" was over 24" high but the border got cracked from a chip during the coldworking. I cut the whole thing off and now it's 13" x 20" Gita is 17" x 22".

Raf

[The Hobbyist]

Absolutely stunning work.

Thanks for sharing.

Jim

[rosanna gusler]

wow! their beauty just leaps from the image. wow. rosanna

[Valerie Adams]

Ditto and ditto! I love the expression on Gita's face! Whenever I see your work, I marvel that we're even using the same materials...

[Morganica]

Wonderful. Are you ever going to line them all up in a gallery and show them? It would be a stunning collection.

[bob proulx]

They are both wonderful, the second one is so life like.
Bob

[Labrador]

Lovelly, whish I could see them in person

Sophie

[Raphael Schnepf]

Cynthia, I think I finally have enough for a one man show. I will start approaching galleries very soon.

Raf

[Raphael Schnepf]

By the way here's a step-by-step for Gita. I photographed her recently at a tipi celebration. I started with light blue glass trying to capture the light refecting on her face The brown color is Persian red over the blue. The devise on either side of the border is the flag colors of South Africa since that is where she is from.

Raf

[Raphael Schnepf]

Two earlier shots:

[The Hobbyist]

Thanks for sharing the process photos. They are great for those, like me, that aspire to do this someday.

Jim

[dawnsud]

Your talent just amazes me. These are stunning. Let us know when you show these because there will be a lot of interest.

[Barb R]

These are so beautiful. Every time I see a new piece, I just say "wow"...

[twin vision glass]

Raphael, as always, it is truly stunning work. You have captured such wonderful personality . I love the hair in both pieces and thankyou so very very much for sharing the progression shots. I hope you love firing on my Dyson shelves too that you so kindly helped me store at your studio , and was so very honored to have you come to Uroboros along with Carol Carson and some other great artists to share stories. It was special and I will not forget it .
Leslie

[Raphael Schnepf]

Les, I used the shelf on Gita's last firing. thanks for the loan. I'll babysit your shelf anytime you're not needing it. Thank you all for your encouraging coments.

Raf

[rosanna gusler]

i hope gita gets to see herself immortalised in glass. wow again. rosanna

[Pat K.]

Amazing and wonderful. I can only hope to ever achieve anything as beautiful. Thanks for the inspiration.

Patty

[Buttercup]

Cynthia, I think I finally have enough for a one man show. I will start approaching galleries very soon.

Raf

Please send that show on a world tour, or at least to Oz! These, too, are stunning, Raf. Congratulations again.

How will you display them? I'm trying to work out if they are on transparent glass or opalescent. They have the glow of real transmitted sunlight yet the solidity of reflected light off opalescent.

Thanks for posting the step-by-step and let us know when and where they go on display. Jen

[Raphael Schnepf]

Jen, These are indeed transparent. That will be a challenge when it comes to finding the right gallery space. A couple of them are in light boxes but I'm hoping for backlighting of another kind.

Raf

[Buttercup]

Raf, thanks for clarifying that. They could be difficult to display to their best advantage in a gallery. Light boxes will probably be the best compromise. I have a painted and fired (cathedral glass) piece hanging in a window. That's fine during the day but it disappears at night. I have another piece mounted as one would install the glass in a picture frame but behind the glass the frame is almost 2" deep, like a shadow box. The inside back of the 'box' is painted cream so in certain direct light the painting throws a shadow, which is actually stronger than the painting, on the cream background. With indirect light the painting shows up against the cream background. It's not satisfactory but I haven't come up with a better solution.

If you come up with a workable solution please let us know. I remember a gorgeous window with Egyptiona motifs that you made for friends. Through the centre of the window a real garden scene was visible. Was the glass that framed the view, in that case, opalescent? It did not seem to have any shadowing or uneven lighting which one would expect with cathedral glass against an outdoor scene.

Have you tried hanging the glass about 12-18" in front of a white wall with strong light thrown up or down the wall's surface?

Jen