Celeste McCall, new member

[Celeste McCall]

Hello.

My name is Celeste McCall. I am a portrait artist who paints mostly on porcelain tiles. There are many current artists who are not familiar with this technique and very few in the world that paint porcelain portraits the "American style". It is my fondest hope that artists of all media can come to appreciate this type of art as one of the most difficult and challenging of all portraiture.

I have painted in oils, acrylic, watercolor, pastels, and other media, so I do have insight to the difficulty that they present. However, because of the "ifs" involved in porcelain art and the effect that firing has on the pigments used, it indeed always has a questionable result. You never know what exactly it is going to look like until you take it out of the kiln.

However, the elements and principles of art apply to all media and I look forward to exchanging ideas and insight into painting portraits with all of you.

I am a member of International Porcelain Artists and Teachers and currently teach all subjects in porcelain art. I am also on the Board of IPAT as a Member at Large and also on the Executive Committee. Our website is www.Ipat.org. I am also a member of World of China Painters and WOCP Teachers Organization. I am also a member of Texas Federated clubs of Porcelain Artists. I have served on the Board of TFPAT and also have served as an Officer.

I really look forward to visiting with you and exchanging information. I love talking about art and especially the qualities that take the beginner and intermediate painter to the next level. I am especially interested in anything "golden" 1.6 and also in the spiritual effects that can be attained by manipulation of both 1/3 or 2/3 and light and dark values. It is a balance, isn't it?

I would be delighted to hear from any of you.

[Jean Kelly]

Celeste, I've visited your site and just wanted to tell you how beautiful your porcelain work is. Its so important to keep these old art forms alive. Master craftsmen are a precious commodity. Welcome to the Forum.

Jean

[Cynthia Yelverton]

Your work is beautiful. What size are your tiles? Have you ever painted with Genesis oil on unglazed porcelain? I have painted a few cameo sized porcelain blanks, but have a hard time finding quality jewelry cases/pin backs (gold/silver) for them. Do you know of a source?

Thanks for sharing your site.

[Elizabeth Schott]

Celeste, your work is indeed beautiful. Now I know where the old expression "skin like porcelain" comes from. I hope you can share some demonstration on your paintings.

[Celeste McCall]

Hi again, and thanks to all who have welcomed me here. I am ready to visit your sites also.

I will be posting some tips and techniques of just how we chinapainters accomplish a piece. So, hopefully, next week I will post some information, as many artists don't exactly know what porcelain painting is.

I use mineral pigments (dry) that are then mixed with oil. These are then thinned with a medium..I like Turpenoid Natural because of its healthy effects. I use that as a brush cleaner and a medium.

I will write more next week, and yes, I do use Genesis paints but not on porcelain. However, Genesis paint has the wonderful ability to not dry out until it is "fired" (by the heat gun or oven). I have not painted with the Genesis on porcelain because of the raised surface that it makes and also because of its longevity. If the paint is fired under the glaze it will last hundreds of years as opposed to the limited lifespan of Genesis.

Porcelain art might be one of the longest lived survivors of all the arts. Unlike ceramics, which tend to craze after just a few decades, the porcelains can remain as is for over a thousand years if they are taken care of properly.

There are several places to get tiles, both small and large, and also jewelry findings, though many artists are now wire-wrapping their own as it adds another artsy part to it. Check out:

Ann Cline
Maryland China Company
Rynne's China Company
Freddi's China Company
Mr and Mrs of Dallas China Suppliers
Kathy Peterson's The Good Stuff

These are just a few who supply us with blanks. There are also some overseas suppliers such as Limoges. E-mail me if you need any information. There are some links on my page of several artists in the U.S. and also some suppliers. Thanks again and I hope to talk to you all again soon.

In the meantime, you might also check out http://www.alzorazaremba.com as she is a really popular china painter, watercolorist, oil, etc.

Sincerely yours,
Celeste McCall

[Linda Nelson]

Hi,

Your work is stunning. Looking forward to your posts...

Linda

[Jeanine Jackson]

Your work is fascinating and beautiful. Welcome!

[Celeste McCall]

Thank you so very much for the nice compliment! That is especially nice coming from a fellow artist.

[Sergio Ostroverhy]

Amazing! Just amazing, cannot believe my eyes! There must be some technical secrets here to obtain that effect of graduation!

[Celeste McCall]

Thank you so much for the kind compliment. Coming from a fantastic artist like yourself I am very humbled by your nice words. You are indeed a very great artist and I am very impressed by your site.

Thank you again. Actually I use a wipe out technique to do this. Hopefully, when I slow down, (I'm teaching seminars and doing shows for the next 6 months so no time right now) I hope to put something up showing my techniques.

I really really love the portraits that you did on your site. They are terrific.