The Porcelain Gallery

What is China Painting?

China painting is done with the same attention to design, pattern, color and visual texture as other forms of painting, such as watercolor, oil, and acrylic. The techniques most closely resemble those of watercolor as the china artist relies upon the white of the surface to provide whites in the resulting painting. But the appearance of a china painting is much like an oil painting—rich and deep. Once fired, the multiple layers will not bleed into each other as watercolors do throughout the painting process. China paintings are painted on a piece of porcelain or ceramic in any of infinite possible shapes and sizes, from small boxes to large pots, from tiles to dishes.

Decorative china painting is done with a paint base made of fine crystals of ground minerals. These are known as overglazes, because they are applied over the glazed white ware.  If china glazes are fired too hot, the color will fade or change and be ruined.

China paint is sold in gram vials in a powder form. The powdered paint is mixed with oil to create the painting medium. Many china artists mix their own oils of lavender or balsam oils.  Different formulas dry at varying rates.  A few companies sell special oils mixed especially for china painting. Oil is generally preferred because it adheres to a glossy glazed surface better.

Using a white ceramic plate or glazed tile as a palette, a small amount of powder is mixed with the oil using a palette knife or stick until a soft, buttery texture is achieved. Turpentine is used to clean brushes, palettes and to clean messes. Protective clothing is worn because once mixed with the oils the paints may stain. It is important not to inhale any of the fine powder as it is mixed because some colors contain small amounts of lead.

Using a previously prepared design, the artist begins to apply paint thinly. The piece is fired in a kiln after each thin layer is painted. The painting develops depth and richness with subsequent layers of paint and firings. One must be careful not to let palette colors run together because then the fired result may not be the color on the palette. A common unwanted result is a “muddy” final color.

A china painting can be completed and fired in one layer, but for the depth and richness usually associated with the technique, multiple firings are usually preferred. In the first layer, the artist puts down the basic pattern, leaving clean the spaces where whites will show in the final portrait. With each subsequent layer of paint and firing the artist deepens shadows and enhances colors until the final firing when they all come together into a satisfying product. It is common to do three to five firings on an individual piece, although more or fewer are sometimes done.

Today china painting is done primarily in electric and gas kilns. A small cone of clay is put into the kiln with the pieces to be fired. This clay cone is of a type of clay that will bend when it reaches a certain temperature. Most electric kilns have what is known as a “kiln sitter,” a small device into which the little clay cone is placed. When the heat reaches a certain temperature, the cone bends and causes a little lever to lower, turning off the kiln.  For the hobby china painter, there are ceramic shops that will fire finished china pieces for a fee.

Click here to see some finished pieces.

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Questions or comments?  Email me at cltonning@porcelaingallery.com

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