Painting with Frit Bulldog Panel

I love frit for its versatility and ability to transform static designs into living, breathing pieces of art. When I make detailed images like this Bulldog, frit is my go to material. It affords me the flexibility I crave to maximize my creative flow.

This bulldog project is perfect for the painting with frit technique. With frit, I can render the subtle color shifts and shadows that make the dog’s expression so loveable. To contrast the frit’s shading, I chose a solid, jewel tone color for the background. The simple background frames the dog in and complements the soft colors in his face. There are other advantages to using a plain background for this type of construction. It outlines an intricately shaped subject beautifully, it ensures the accuracy of the shape and it contains the frit. Plus, the smooth background contrasts the visually textured subject matter. 

For complex images like this, I draw my pattern on the computer using Glass Eye 2000 from Dragonfly Software. I bring in a photograph with the add background option and then draw over the image. The nice thing about working from a photo on live subjects is I can use more interesting poses and perspectives with confidence. When the drawing is done, I know the shapes of the body parts and their proportions are accurate. Once I’m satisfied with the line drawing, I test different color combinations until I get a mix I like.  

This project is intended to hang in a window. Therefore, I built the dog on a clear glass base so when back lit, light would shine through the dog’s face. I used opal frit colors for the first layer of the dog’s face. This way the face would appear solid and not disappear when the finished piece was on display. Opal and transparent colors were used to detail the dog’s markings and to create soft shadows in the dog’s coat. 

Most of my frit projects are completed in one firing. But for this adorable pup, I wanted to bring out the warm undertones around his eyes and mouth, so it was fired twice. I laid medium, opal brown down with a heavy hand. After it was fired and permanent, I added a thick layer of the Champagne opal on top to match the picture more closely. The layering gives the art a more realistic quality. I then added tiny details around the eyes and reshaped the mouth. The project was then fired a second time.

The fused panel is framed in brass U channel with hooks installed to hang it securely from heavy duty line. 

Tips for working with frit.

Don’t be skimpy! If you must ask is it enough, add more. The frit should be 1/8” thick for strong color saturation. 

Know your colors. Consult the manufactures catalog or larger frit sizes to confirm the powder or fine colors you’ve selected are indeed the colors you want to use. 

Be meticulous about the clean-up. Nothing ruins an image faster than sloppy fabrication. You can do better! 

Pour it on! Frit may be small, but even small applications can have a huge, positive impact on your work. 

My favorite thing about the finished project, the detail that I feel really brought Cooper to life, was the addition of the catch light on his eyes. They’re made with strategically placed tiny specs of white frit. It’s this kind of attention to detail that makes pieces special. 

Approach even your simplest projects with that level of commitment and passion and you’ll see exciting results as your art rises to the next level.       

Watch the Painting with Frit Bulldog video here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWw8LrZa_Rc

 

Enjoy!

Happy Holidays!

Lisa

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