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About this Product
I understand that another name for the Betta Fish is "Fighting Fish" and that name came from their reputation for not being peaceful aquarium fish. I realize that the size of the true Betta Fish is small and in a pet store they're displays are relegated to small clear plastic cups with water. Definitely not befitting the graceful, colorful beauty that they share. I still love them. So my trek down Betta Lane continues with this wildly colorful Betta Fish sculpture. Presented for your consideration, the Red Blue Yellow Betta Fish on a stand. I can't come up with a better name for her.
Factoid #1 this betta fish is, in fact, NOT based on a real betta fish. Factoid #2 Betta was handcrafted by me, in my Florida studio and has textured designs made by pressing stamps into the body of the unbaked clay. Factoid #3 The colors are derived from intense powdered pigments that I handpainted in their dry form directly onto the raw, unbaked clay. After baking there are several final finishing coats of gloss varnish. #4 Betta rests on a clear acrylic rod that is sunk into a wooden split ball stand also painted with the matching blue pigments used on the fish, mixed with varnish. Factoid #5. Cosclay is very flexible. As my husband says, "Coolamundo". For more information on how this Betta was created, please be sure to check out my How It's Made section.
Care and Feeding: No need to feed this Betta Fish . Cleaning is easy, you can use a soft cloth to give her a quick dusting. The paints and clay have lightfast qualities, however, I recommend that this fish stays indoors and out of the rain. Best if your Betta lives comfortably inside.
Beware: My fish are not created to be a toy for small children.
Dimensions: 7.5" w X 10"'h X 3.5" d
Delivery: If this Betta Fish speaks to you, there's no wait, she's ready to be shipped. Please allow 2-3 days for me to get her packed up and on her way.
Uncertain? Are you loving the colorful ambiance that fish could bring into your space? Are you uncertain whether you'd be a good fish parent - worried about the upkeep of an aquarium? This could be the answer for you! Colorful, collectible, Betta Fish. Start with one, they're like those potato chips, you can't just own one.
Thanks for visiting - From my hands to yours
Judy B Freeman
Land O Lakes, FL
Meet the Maker
Like a lot of artists and crafters, I've been making things from a young age. My family moved around a lot because my dad was in the service, so I was the "new kid" more than just once. I discovered that art and craft projects helped to keep me busy if we moved to a new town during the Summer months. During college I discovered 3-D art and got hooked first on sculpting and then on ceramic art. I graduated with a Bachelor in Fine Arts and, as many can relate, I got a regular job or 3 or 5 and my art projects were relegated to hobby status. After a life of not making art my first priority, I was able to switch gears. First I concentrated on being a ceramic artist and potter, creating functional ware as well as whimsical sculptural pieces. Then as the 50 pound boxes of clay got heavier and heavier, I decided that I needed a plan to help save my back. So I started doing research and started working with polymer clay. I retired my potters wheel and traded 50 pound boxes of clay for 8 pound boxes of clay. I made the total migration several years ago. Then in 2020 a new product in the polymer category was released, called Cosclay. It's a hybrid plastic - rubber clay and like polymer bakes in the oven, but Cosclay is quite resilient. Cosclay can stand up to the rigors of shipping across country and I've even dropped pieces without any breakage. I continue my artistic journey and have had fun selling on other marketplaces like Etsy and wholesale to galleries and shops across the country through the IndieMe website. Now the Goimagine website calls to my desire to help make a difference with my art. To be part of a truly handmade marketplace and reconnect with humans across the country.
I have a couple of "claims to fame". In 2007 a filming crew came to my home studio and filmed a 7 minute segment for an HGTV show called That's Clever! I demonstrated from start to finish how I made a ceramic cat bank. It took 2 years for the show to finally air and what an experience that was. My next claim to fame was also when I was still working in ceramic clay. I loved to make fish teapots. Three of my fish teapots were purchased by the Kamm Foundation Teapot Collection, the world's largest collection of teapots. I've had pieces, both ceramic as well as polymer in a variety of group exhibitions and have been fortunate enough to meet a lot of really great people in the process. My motto: keep learning, keep making.
Thanks for visiting - any questions, please don't hesitate to send me a message.
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How it’s Made
This fish on stand starts out as a block of Cosclay. I start out by conditioning the clay and slicing then into a chopper it goes to soften up a bit. Then I roll it by hand and then roll it on a machine that's made for sheeting polymer clays. I create a form for the inside of the fish body and wrap the form first with foil tape, then with sheets of Cosclay to cover the entire fish body. I add the tail first and reinforce with coils and use one of my favorite tools to add lines that after doing both sides of the tail, make it super thin. Then I cut out the dorsal and bottom fins and join and do the same adding lines carving into the fins. By now this process is getting tricky as I hold the fish with one hand and have tail and fins flopping around becuase they're so thin. Then comes the pelvic fins and the lips as I join and smooth. I use a circular tool that I press scales all over the fish body and then add the eyes. Lastly the pectoral fins on the sides of the body. Before baking, I first take some of my favorite stamps and impress them into the fish body to create a fun pattern. Then, I take red, blue and yellow powdered pigments and paint them with a brush onto the raw clay. This a truly messy task but well worth the final result. Then, this fish went into the oven for over an hour to cure and magically change from a soft malleable state to a solid flexible form. After the fish has cooled down I used a wonderful clear gloss varnish and paint multiple coats on the fish.
Finishing up I cut a clear acrylic rod to size, drill a hole in my wooden split ball (from Woodpeckers Crafts) and paint the split ball with the same blue pigment mixed with varnish and then add more clear gloss varnish. Once the base is dry, I join the fish to the rod and the rod to the base using a really super Super Glue (by Infinity Bond).
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Shop Policies
REFUNDS/EXCHANGES: It's important to me that you are 100% pleased with your purchase. If after receipt and inspection, for any reason, you are not happy with your order, please contact me within 14 days. We can make arrangements to either exchange or refund. Return shipment costs will be paid by the customer. And the amount refunded will be the total cost of goods purchased, not to include the initial shipping charges. CANCELLATIONS: Orders may be cancelled at any time prior to the order being shipped, and full refund will be processed. Exception to this policy would be if the items are customized especially for the customer, and work has begun.
GIFTS: Special conditions regarding items purchased as a gift. If the giftee (person receiving the gift) requests to return the item(s) I will direct the giftee to contact the giftor. I will await instructions from the customer that purchased the gift. Same Conditions apply as shown above in Refunds/Exchanges Section.
DAMAGED IN TRANSIT: NOTIFY ME WITHIN 3 DAYS OF YOUR RECEIPT OF THE PURCHASE OF ANY DAMAGE. KEEP ALL BOXES AND PACKING MATERIALS SO THAT A CLAIM CAN BE FILED
*At this time I only ship within the United States
**All images are the property of Judith B. Freeman, LLC and may not be copied without written permission.
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