Spring flower garden in my studio.

When Mike got up about 3AM this morning for bathroom, I told him, 'I am going to place something under bronze glaze before firing so please don't start the kiln.' He was naturally surprised. This is not something he expected to hear from his sleeping wife. Apparently I had been thinking about it in my half-sleep state.

Each glaze-firing is time consuming and important. Loading the kiln takes at least one hour, but sometimes two hours. It is a 3D puzzle in a real life.

And preparing bisque for glaze-firing is even more time consuming and hard work. Among recent masks, Apple tree took the longest to prepare. I was cursing myself. Who on earth made these details without any consideration for painting? Only a fool makes something like this! After 3.5 hours' painting, it was only half done.  Disheartening.

After 3.5hours, it was not finished yet. 

One of the studio tables. 

And next morning.

Certain glaze prefers a high shelf, and others prefer a lower shelf. Masks shouldn't be touching each other.

Intertwined appearance, but all were carefully slid to gaps.

I have to look at them from all directions; so nothing will be even slightly touching.

From a lower angle, they look like this.

Once all were loaded, we took them to the kiln, and carefully placed them inside. As I have broken work during loading too often, I always get quite nervous.

Luckily, the result was great. Half were done and others will need re-firing for minor reasons. The end is in sight.