Hobbies Archives - Page 5 of 5

How to Smoke-Firing Ceramics for a Beautiful Decorative Result

August 29, 2023February 5, 2022 by Hannie Mommers

I used smoke firing on objects that already had their first round of firing in an electric kiln, called bisque or biscuit clay. This reduced the chance of breakage, and it also ensured that the objects were fired evenly and well.

Admittedly, my neighbours weren’t always quite pleased when I was firing this way. As you might know from a poorly ventilated fireplace, burning stuff that causes a lot of smoke can smell penetrating.

Yet, the results were so great that I risked their dislike. In this article, I explain how to smoke-firing ceramics yourself.

My Mother Enjoyed her Life Album Immensely

July 6, 2022January 8, 2022 by Hannie Mommers

My mother was on a closed ward in a nursing home. She suffered from Vascular Dementia. In 2011 the Home asked me to make her a Life Album, a biography of my mother’s life with pictures and text.

I had made several scrapbooks in the past so the idea appealed to me. And they made the task easy for me by giving me a printed binder, so it was basically a ‘fill in the blanks’ exercise.

I took good care of my mum from the time my father died. But there is one thing I deeply regret: that I didn’t make her a Life Album when she was still okay. I could have asked her for so many more details.

Gesso printing, made in November and December 2019

February 17, 2023December 31, 2019 by Hannie Mommers

Being creative is very important to me. Oh wait, I think it’s important for everybody. 🙂

The gesso printing technique is pretty easy once you get the hang of it. And it’s a perfect hobby.

What I like about working with newspapers or magazines is, that I get not only a picture on the paper, but that I can leave parts of the front side of the paper intact. That way it’s a mix between a monoprint and a collage.

Inspiration from a Strange Source. Drawings of “Sponsje”

November 29, 2022October 31, 2019 by Hannie Mommers

In 2019 I had an intention to make a drawing daily. At times it was a challenge to get inspired.

Luckily, I saw the sponge lying on the kitchen sink and had to think of SpongeBob.

Why not create my own figure, I thought. As you see, inspiration from a strange source is possible.

The nice thing was that I could try to portray both feelings and activities. Fantastic. I made the drawings in the app Procreate.