Teamwork!

I made this Octopus Platter with the influence/help of my son Casey. He is in the Army and we created this piece by texting and emailing our thoughts and ideas to each other since he can't be with me in the studio.

Casey has had an influence in my art since he was 3, and has been creating and drafting his own designs since he was 5!

We used 90coe and I accepted his challenge to create an Octopus that changes color in light like a real one does.

I made frit from various shades of Bullseye oranges, yellows, reds, pinks, and purples with my frit maker. I added a splash of dicro scraps from the eyes for that extra pop!

I trimmed the frit with a paint I have created using Volcanic Ash from a 1912 eruption up here in Alaska. (Mt. Katmai) I blended some gold, red and bronze mica powders into the paint for an extra pop.

The octopus is on a base of double strength Steel Blue. I used thin orange opal for octopus base.

The piece is 14 X 18 inches.