Celeste McCall

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.

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Garth Herrick

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

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

Here is the original photo that I used.

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Garth Herrick

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

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.

Terri Ficenec

Hi Celeste - This turned out beautifully!

I'm wondering how would a tile like this be displayed? framed, or in a little holder like is used to display plates? It seems so precious, how do you protect against breakage?

__________________
Terri Ficenec
http://www.terrificenec.com

Celeste McCall

Dear Terri,

Thank you for your kind words. This piece will be framed in a regular size frame with clips or it would be placed into foamboard with a mattboard on top and then put into a larger frame. Sometimes they are very pretty just sitting on a gold easel. I am currently painting an 18" oval tile.

Porcelain is very hard (it is used on the space shuttle) and I have had some unframed portrait pieces that have been dropped before with no breakage. One just has to care for it as they would a fine Ming vase. Thank you again for your interest. I appreciate it very much.

Marvin Mattelson

I always get a big kick out of seeing your paintings. It's a breath of fresh air. Very beautiful.

__________________
Marvin Mattelson
http://www.fineartportrait.com
marvin@fineartportrait.com

Celeste McCall

Dear Marvin,

Your words are so kind. Thank you so much. You are one of the very best that this country has and I really appreciate you taking the time to post a message. I can't wait to take a class with you someday. Your paintings are unbelievably beautiful. Thanks again.