Recently on a P&O Baltic Cruise I had the pleasure of teaching a group of crafters a Ceramic Painting project.
This technique can seem a little daunting to those who have never painted before so my aim was to try & show just how you can make a simple process work really effectively. I was so so proud of all the lovely work that every one produced and wished I had taken photos to add to this blog feature. Because several of them were far better than my samples which do feature on the blog.
I'm not very good with names but work that stood out were painted by Jan Wells from Dorset and Sarah from Portsmouth both who created beautiful designs. Also a Gentleman from Wales with a fine steady hand I was very envious of .
I've been painting on ceramics with this medium for the last ten years and never tire of the endless ways to use the products and the fun at presenting them to people. Being able to encourage others to have ago is very exciting and when sharing tips etc makes it helpful for crafters to get into the medium and want to take it further trying on other items.
It shouldn't be confused with firing and pottery glazing this technique is purely for decorative purpose and having fun! ... although designs can be made a little more durable by baking in a conventional oven. Which makes items washable with care but not withstanding microwaves or dishwashers.
The project demonstrated onboard Artemis was decorating white ceramic plates using Carmine Red paint with stencils to achieve snowflake designs. Snowflake punches have been used on this design but subsitute other shaped punches such as floral . I've posted a step by step on here (as promised) with a shopping list , each item has been sourced and a link added so where anything is underlined if you click on it a new page should open with the help for you to purchase products.
You can get as intricate as you wish to with this process or keep it just as the basic stencil shape with added glitter glue. There is really no wrong way and every image can be embellished and worked up or left at a simple stage. Its an effective way of printing &decorating your own designs
Thin lines have been painted over the stenciled shapes to build up further patterns. Using a series of lines and dots. You can really make up your own designs as you go along. Or just add glitter glue on the centres or edges of all shapes
Shopping List
Marabu Ceramica paint Carmine Red 15ml pot
duo dauber sponge applicator
paint brush number.00 detail round brush........ most art shops
mixing plate use lid of margarine or butter pot. any plastic will do.
Craft punch of your choice
water
Ceramic to paint- most kitchen shops white plates or mugs look out for mugs with nice flat sides and plates with rims are good for decorating too.
STEP BY STEP instructions
1 Cut a square of stencil film and slot into the punch shape you have chosen to use. Push right to back and take care to be able to see film on all sides around punch , this just helps to punch shape centrally.
2 Punch out using palm of hand and asserting full pressure on a stable hard surface.
3 Using the surround not the actual punched out shape peel off the backing and apply sticky surface down onto the rim of the plate.
4 Press down in centre lightly.
5 Take a very little dab of red paint and add onto a mixer surface such as a plastic lid. With the dabber let it absorb all paint as you push around lid.
6 Dab the sponge dauber over the stencil area , you really dont require alot of coverage -less is more - as if you intend to paint over with lines they will show much better if base is lighter.
7 Once all colour is applied peel up the stencil and move around plate stenciling on colour as you go.
* its low tack which means you an re apply lots of times. Jus take care not to smudge any fresh paint and by adding images 12 o'clock 3'clock 6 oclock 9 o'clock this will help to let each dry completely , before you go round again and fill in areas in between.
8 Once all stencilled shapes are in place and dry mix a little paint on the round rush and apply lines along length of each snowflake and dots .
9 once all line wrk dry add glitter glue or gem centres or edges.
10 BAKE in oven 170 for 30 minutes but do check manufacturers instructions as they vary between brands.
tips
-Always leave in oven with door open to cool off completely before you handle.
- Don't take out using gloves as although paint has been baked on to harden at this stage its still warm and there for soft.
- only a small amount of paint is needed to be mixed at any time . It dries very quickly .
- Clean all brushes and daubers with warm water and leave to soak for a while.
- picking up two colours from a pallette will produce a gradated effect and if colours choosen carefully ofetn a third clour can be made ie. yellow and pink wil fuse centrally to create a orange.
- Stencil film does not have to be punched it can be cut freehand so leave shapes and petals can be added to your design seperately.
- its worth pointing out that if the actual punched shapes are used to stencil with the area around them will be the colour and this works well if colou is kept quite pale . Negative -possitive.
- just using dauber on its own on the item produces a round soft shape of colour and can be worked into designs .
Glitter glues can be used to write on names which can personalise items when making as gifts.
