Darling Girl

Celeste McCall · 03-17-2004, 10:15 PM

Well, I'm almost finished with her.

I have still a ways to go and so far it's going OK. You never can tell with Porcelain. Sometimes there will be white spots that just start showing up. This is the 8th firing so far. 8"x10" porcelain.

I got this project over at wet canvas. She was one of the young children in that project.

She has been a lot of fun to paint.

Garth Herrick · 03-17-2004, 10:57 PM

It is stunning, Celeste!

Tell us more about the process. Are the glazes like watercolors? At what cone do you fire each state. I am completely ignorant of the medium of porcelain paintings. Can you make any corrections to the painting by scraping away an earlier state and repainting? Are all the paints or pigments used transparently, or are they translucent or opaque?

Beautiful work! Thanks for sharing.

Garth

Celeste McCall · 03-18-2004, 09:34 AM

Dear Garth,
Thank you very much.

And yes, it is exactly like watercolors. We use dry pigments which we then mix with oil. Some people mix the dry pigment with glycerine and then thin with water. Some mix the dry pigments with powdered sugar and then use water. But I use the traditional American method which mixes with oil and then paints with a medium of copaiba and a little clove oil and Turpenoid Natural. I have even mixed with linseed oil before, but that tends to dry and I like the paint to stay open.

Also, you can remove any paint that has been applied 'before firing' by just wiping or washing it off as it never dries until fired.
Paint can be removed 'after firing' by using an acid which is used to remove rust from porcelain sinks.

The paints that we use are the same pigments as with other media so some are transparent and if they contain zinc or titanium then they are opaque. Also, there are additional special glazes like lusters, enamels, and 24k gold that can be applied also for speciality effects such as with some of the antique famous KPM portrait tiles from Europe.
A good place to learn more about this method is to go to: http://ppio.com and see some of the websites and the library there on various techniques etc.

Again, thank you so much for the nice compliment. It is always nice to know that other artists appreciate this very old art form. The nice thing about it is that as long as it doesn't get broken, then it will virtually last forever with no fading or damage.

I really appreciate your post.

Celeste McCall · 03-18-2004, 10:04 AM

Here is the original photo that I used.

Garth Herrick · 03-18-2004, 12:29 PM

Celeste,

You are so creative!

What an imaginative and great adaptation of what seems like a chance snapshot. Those hands really work with those blossoms.

It makes me pause to wonder if I could adapt one of my 65,000 photos in a previously unimagined way.

Thanks,

Garth

Celeste McCall · 03-21-2004, 12:28 AM

Dear Garth,
As great a painter as you are, I have no doubt that you can do anything. Wow, how lucky you are to have taken so many pictures. I can't wait to see more of your work. I love the way the messages that they convey. You are very blessed.

Elizabeth Schott · 03-26-2004, 05:28 PM

Celeste, wonderful as always!

I have a question, why on earth are you posting your unveiling's in this area? You should be in the seasoned pros if anyone should. I think the moderator should move this thread.

Celeste McCall · 03-26-2004, 07:43 PM

Dear Beth,
You are too kind. Thank you so much.

Linda Nelson · 03-26-2004, 08:05 PM

This is just really precious and beautiful. Her gaze at the viewer is charmingly innocent and yet captivating.

Much congrations

Linda

Celeste McCall · 03-26-2004, 08:12 PM

Dear Linda,
Thank you so very much for your post. I am so in awe of all of the talent on SOG that it really means a lot when any of the artists here appreciates this almost lost art form. Seriously, there are very few of us in the United States that teach portraiture on porcelain, so I really appreciate it when a fine artist like yourself and the others take the time to post a message. Thanks to all of you who have posted on this darling girl.