About China Painting
Porcelain Art, or China Painting, is an ages old technique whereby artist's paints are
applied onto porcelain in the same manner as paints are applied to canvas, paper, or
any other material.
In Porcelain Art, the combination of several applications of colored transparent paints
overglaze) and firing in a kiln to hot temperatures (usually 1300-1600 degrees F.) produces
a translucent
glow of color depth in the artwork
which enhances the piece.
artists who hone their talent and their knowledge to become Master Artists. Sadly, the
number of
porcelain artists is few compared to other mediums.
society that understand the difference between what is hand-painted and what is decal or
mechanically
painted.
The following is a description of the steps taken by the artist of hand-painted porcelain:
A china blank , or a piece of shiny white porcelain (glazed) is applied with dry paint
(overglaze) which has been ground or mixed, by hand, with a medium such as mineral oil.
The mixed paint is applied with an artist's brush that has been dipped into another medium
such as an oil, turpentine, or water, etc. Once the design has been established and painted
the porcelain support is placed in the kiln and fired at an average of 1500 degrees
(Temp varies by artist.) The heat of the firing softens the glaze of the china and allows
absorption of the color (with oil burning off) and the glaze then hardens back over the color
as the kiln cools. The
design is thus set and sealed.
Generally, the painted piece of porcelain goes through repeated paintings and firings before
it reaches the artist's desired finished look. There are one fire paintings and there are paintings
that may undergo many fires. Gold, platinum, silver and lustres and special pastes may also be
applied for
greater enhancement or decoration.
Please Email Me With Any Questions or Concerns: Lynn Patton