Sunday Sketches

so since I've been posting photos of my art for Sunday Sketches, they've all be ACEO cards of one media or another.  I was going to do another one but I've been babysitting 2 toddlers and an 7 year old for a week while their Mom tends to her grandmother who had a stroke out of state.  So rather than just not do a Sunday Sketch I thought I'd post a piece of my porcelain art that started as a sketch! 

Inspiration Piece

Blank China

People always ask me how I do this.  Each piece of china is painted and fired in a kiln to a temperature of 1800 degrees multiple times. Here's some pictures of how it progresses:

Design Sketched in

I generally sketch the design I want on with a wax pencil.  The wax will burn off in the kiln, leaving just the paint behind. The paints used are powdered paint pigments, mixed with oil  into a consistency of tooth paste.Oil is also used as a painting medium.  Some people buy special mixtures of oils, however, you can use anything from mineral oil to motor oil!

Brushes used are very soft and they are oiled and then the oil pressed out on a paper towel prior to going into the paints.   Unlike other types of painting very little paint is loaded on the brush. Your brush "kisses" the porcelain as you paint.

The First Painting & Firing

Second Painting & Firing

Each piece is painted multiple times as you build up your color from light to dark. There is no white on the palette, the white seen is actually the porcelain showing through. At each firing the glaze opens up and the paint goes into the glaze. As it cools the glaze closes and the paints become permanent. They will never wash off. They are dishwasher & microwave safe.

Third Painting & Firing

The only exception to this is if the porcelain artist uses gold or lusters on the piece. Gold is actually 24kt. liquid gold. When fired it doesn't go into the glaze. It sits on top of the glaze. Lusters like mother of pearl also sit on the top of the glaze. For that reason should you have gold or lusters, handwashing is advised.  Gold should never be put into the microwave as it is a metal and might give you a fireworks show!

So, if you are interested in porcelain art (a gift to treasure for generations to come), please visit my Etsy shop: http://jywheeler.etsy.com

Hope you've enjoyed the work in progress...now back to chasing toddlers !

For more awesome Sunday Sketches visit: http://bluechairdiary.blogspot.com