Sunday, March 13, 2011

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

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Joann, this is beautiful! You are an amazing artist!!!

Heather said...

Wow, how beautiful. thanks for sharing the process...you are very talented - i just hopped over to your etsy shop, you have such lovely things! love the bunnies, and the bunny spoon - too cute!

Tins and Treasures said...

Good Morning, Joann,
This is quite a process...with beautiful results.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. ~Natalie

WrightStuff said...

Have fun with those kiddies! Thanks for sharing how you do these, they are really beautiful.

Crystal said...

This is just awesome! :-)

Jehanne's doodles said...

oh this is so beautiful!! Thank you for sharing :)

Kristin Dudish said...

Wow. It it so great to see the "behind the scenes" of how these are created... beautiful.

xo
Kristin

p.s. I'm so glad you will be sharing this type of painting and your ACEOs too) with Paint Party Friday!

Christine said...

this is beautiful, thanks for sharing the process, I had no idea the work involved.

Deanna said...

Beautiful work. I've always wanted to try working with ceramics but would have a hard time finding a spot for a kiln. lol. Absolutely love this!

Unknown said...

Gorgeous plate... thank you for explaining the process it was really interesting...

Unknown said...

oh wow wow and wow!!!! this is amazing work....what a cool piece....very beautiful plate!!!

Marlene said...

Gorgeous Joann, loved seeing your progression. I have painted porcelain dolls but it has been a long time. Your work is so good.

Tammie Lee said...

It was wonderful to see and hear how you do this. So lovely and springlike!

Liz Revit said...

Very pretty! Thanks for sharing.

Nelly said...

Beautiful, I loved seeing the progression of your piece. Wonderful!

EVA said...

Lovely and what a great informative post!

lissa said...

thanks for the telling us the process. It's always interesting to see the process in pictures.

have a great sunday!

Lenora said...

lovely and thanks for the tutorial

Julia Christie said...

This is an amazing process and really beautiful piece! I had no idea you did this type of work - just gorgeous!
Thanks for sharing the process, something I did not know anything about.Really interesting!

Smiles

Heather Foust said...

Wow wow wow!! Can't say it enough. Very awesome!!!

Sinderella's Studio said...

beautifully done!!! Good luck with all those kids!
dana

Alexandra MacVean said...

Very, very beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing with us your process as well! :)

Hannah said...

This is beautiful! Thank you for sharing.

Morph Waffle said...

Wow, that is BEAUTIFUL!

Reflections said...

Thanks for sharing your process. I have known others who do the porcelain painting, yet never realized the process included using powdered paint pigments... and oil! Who would have thought?

Fabulous delicate lines, lovely piece!

Helen said...

Wow this is amazing and it's great to see all the stages.Thanks!

A Day in the Past

Facebook reminded me that  8 years ago I was at the coliseum in Rome. The most amazing observation I made was that it was so quiet. People s...