Dichroic Fused Glass Gecko in Picture Frame - Handmade Monday

I am pleased to announce that I have brought my laptop back from the dead! I had to erase everything and take it back to factory settings so I don't have all my usual comfy settings and files but it is operational.

I love African art because it is so vibrant and warm, full of colour. If you have ever been there you will know what I mean when I say the feel of Africa is unforgettable. I miss it so much and this gecko is a reminder. We always had a few geckos on the walls in the house. They eat insects, usually stay up near the ceiling, occasionally fight with each other, which is fun to watch, but are welcome house guests.

My gecko is a riot of colour and not at all realistic except for the shape and is framed in a light wood picture frame. He is attached to the glass so is a tactile piece of art either to hang on a wall or free standing. I have hand cut all the glass, this is not from a mould, and it has been in the kiln 3 times. Hope you like him!
For more gorgeous makes head over to Handmade Monday you wont be disappointed!

Art Gecko

My son made a gecko at school that is very cute and we are going to hang / place on the wall in a corner like just as a real gecko would sit (kinda).
Here is the one my son did ..... it is clay, has been fired, vandalised, fixed, painted and varnished. Several works from the class were hacked by an unknown vandal and this is at Grammar School urgh! There is only one 'injury' still visible but this poor guy lost his head and all limbs.
I think he has recovered very well though.....I love the shape of gecko's and other creatures so it got me to thinking I could do one in glass..... OH didn't say a thing. Afterwards he told me he scoffed and thought 'Dreamer' but was pleasantly surprised - I am not sure which way to take that but never mind!

and here is mine before it went in the kiln - I took a pic in case it didn't turn out so well (OK so I didn't have masses of faith in me either)
I drew an outline on a piece of shelf liner and then cut bits of black glass and pieced them together a bit like a puzzle only with no guiding picture! Once I had the basic gecko I then decorated him.....
He had lovely long fingers and toes at this stage but they reduced during firing, next time I will make sure his toes stay long.
The first trip through the firing process was partly successful but he clearly needed some 'work'. Lots of lessons learned!
I didn't really like his body colour so I cut out the middle, changed it, then back to the kiln......
He STILL had some gaps where the glass had shrunk back to reveal a rather poorly front right arm and a hole in his head which can't be good for his health so I added some more black glass, refired him and here is the end result.
Until now I have only made glass jewellery pieces which are small and easily manageable.
This is my first attempt at a free form art glass sculpture, I think he turned out okay! What do you think?

OH coined the phrase 'Art Gecko' to which I groaned but it has stuck, just like an annoying tune, so Art Gecko he will stay.
I have been working with crinkilized dichro and will have some pics in my next post ......