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using acrylic paints on pottery?

updated tue 13 feb 07

 

Stephanie Wright on sat 10 feb 07


Hi Everybody,

I saw an artist's work recently that was absolutely beautiful. The
description I read along with the pieces said he decorates his pottery
using acrylic paints (and sometimes goldleaf). I thought it was very
interesting. Has anybody here on the list tried this method of decoration?
Can you tell me how it is done, or point me in the right direction on
where to research this? Am I correct in assuming that this would be done
post-firing, and need to be sealed with some sort of clear topcoat?

Thanks!

Stephanie

Leigh Whitaker on sun 11 feb 07


In a message dated 2/10/2007 9:07:55 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
brneydgrlie@YAHOO.COM writes:

Hi Everybody,

I saw an artist's work recently that was absolutely beautiful. The
description I read along with the pieces said he decorates his pottery
using acrylic paints (and sometimes goldleaf). I thought it was very
interesting. Has anybody here on the list tried this method of decoration?
Can you tell me how it is done, or point me in the right direction on
where to research this? Am I correct in assuming that this would be done
post-firing, and need to be sealed with some sort of clear topcoat?

Thanks!

Stephanie


Was it this guy!?!
_http://www.yessy.com/art/ceramics/bowls_pots.html?view=66033_ (http://www.yessy.com/art/ceramics/bowls_pots.html?view=66033)

I was just looking at this stuff the other day, wondering just exactly how
he did it.

Leigh

Darnie Sizemore on sun 11 feb 07


Stephanie,

Yes, the paint goes on after bique firing and you
would need a clear top coat, either spray or painted
on. You can also use tempera or acrylic.

Darnie
--- Stephanie Wright wrote:

> Hi Everybody,
>
> I saw an artist's work recently that was absolutely
> beautiful. The
> description I read along with the pieces said he
> decorates his pottery
> using acrylic paints (and sometimes goldleaf). I
> thought it was very
> interesting. Has anybody here on the list tried this
> method of decoration?
> Can you tell me how it is done, or point me in the
> right direction on
> where to research this? Am I correct in assuming
> that this would be done
> post-firing, and need to be sealed with some sort of
> clear topcoat?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Stephanie
>
>
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Dina Barnese on sun 11 feb 07


Stephanie,

I used to paint slipcasted ceramics with acrylics. This was about twenty
years ago, and I would buy the greenware pieces from a local ceramics
place. I would then clean up the greenware, and take it back to get it
fired - I'm not sure to what cone but it was a hard bisque. I would then
paint the pieces with acrylics and would spray them with a clear
topcoat, just like you said. I worked this way for a few years and
mainly made personalized Christmas ornaments.

--Dina
Flagstaff, AZ

Vince Pitelka on sun 11 feb 07


Stephanie wrote:
> I saw an artist's work recently that was absolutely beautiful. The
> description I read along with the pieces said he decorates his pottery
> using acrylic paints (and sometimes goldleaf). I thought it was very
> interesting. Has anybody here on the list tried this method of decoration?
> Can you tell me how it is done, or point me in the right direction on
> where to research this? Am I correct in assuming that this would be done
> post-firing, and need to be sealed with some sort of clear topcoat?

Stephanie -
The artist was probably Bennett Bean, and it is important to point out that
this should never be done on any sort of piece that could ever used for
functional food-contact use. If there is ANY chance that someone might use
the vessel for hot foods, or worse yet, in the oven, then you can only use
materials that survive the firing. But you are probably talking about
decorative pieces that are non-functional, in which case you just treat the
fired clay surface like you would a canvas and go for it. If the clay is
low-fired, you'd probably want to prime it with gesso or some other
appropriate primer to seal the pores. If it is high-fired you could just
paint your imagery right on the clay, if the color is appropriate for your
substrate. You're really asking the wrong people, because once the pot is
fired, all the information you need would come from books and experts on
acrylic painting and gold-leafing.
Good luck -
- Vince

Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/

marci Boskie's Mama =^..^= on sun 11 feb 07


> Stephanie Wright wrote:
>Subject: Using acrylic paints on pottery?
>
>Hi Everybody,
>I saw an artist's work recently that was absolutely beautiful. The
>description I read along with the pieces said he decorates his pottery
>using acrylic paints (and sometimes goldleaf). I thought it was very
>interesting. Has anybody here on the list tried this method of decoration?
>Can you tell me how it is done, or point me in the right direction on
>where to research this? Am I correct in assuming that this would be done
>post-firing, and need to be sealed with some sort of clear topcoat?


Yes, it would be done postfiring.... Acrylics will burn off in
the kiln ....Actually acrylics painted on a piece, then
covered with chinapaints or underglaze and fired can make for an
interesting look... The acrylic will burn off and act as a resist ....
Acrylic paints will dry with a hard plastic-y finish that
doesnt need sealing... You might want to seal the gold leaf though.
Although real gold leaf will not tarnish , if you decide to use one
of the cheaper metal leafs, they can discolor... There are a lot of
acrylic varnishes on the market that would do the trick ...
Varnishing over the leaf will change the look though.. Gold leaf has a
very rich sheen and varnishing over that with a
shiny acrylic varnish will make the gold very shiny... There are
also matt varnishes ...
Anyway , you shouldnt need anything over the acrylics...but you may
need gesso under them depending on how porous your fired surface is .
And it would be a decorative use only ... I wouldnt try this on a
functional piece...

Marci Blattenberger Boskie's Mama =^..^=
http://www.marciblattenberger.com
marci@ppio.com
Porcelain Painters International Online http://www.ppio.com


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Bunny Lemak on sun 11 feb 07


Once your piece is fired to maturity you can use quite a number of
finishes on it that do not need re-firing. This is mostly done in the
earthenware clay because they would be considered "non-functional" ware.

Some things you can use on bisque: Acrylic paints; Oil paints; Gold-
leaf; Chalks; Watercolor pencils; Marking pens; use your imigination
and the list can go on & on. I have even seen someone use face makeup on
a piece!

Just keep in mind - this piece is NOT for food.

Bunny

Snail Scott on sun 11 feb 07


At 07:30 PM 2/10/2007 -0500, you wrote:
>I saw an artist's work recently that was absolutely beautiful. The
>description I read along with the pieces said he decorates his pottery
>using acrylic paints (and sometimes goldleaf). I thought it was very
>interesting. Has anybody here on the list tried this method of decoration?
>Can you tell me how it is done, or point me in the right direction on
>where to research this? Am I correct in assuming that this would be done
>post-firing, and need to be sealed with some sort of clear topcoat?


Paint can be applied to fired clay just
as to any other surface; no real difference.
Some folks like to use an undercoat of gesso
first; some like to paint directly on the
clay surface. Any painting technique that
works on canvas will do just as well on clay.

For a 'professional-standards' result, I'd
use artist-grade acrylics, not hobby or
student grade. They are generally more
archival, create a tougher paint skin, and
have more pigment in their mix.

Topcoats are not essential, but they DO
help protect the surface from abrasion, and
some protect against UV fading also. (Good
quality paints are pretty resistant to fading
anyway, but it should say for sure on the
tube.) Topcoats can also be used to modify
texture and gloss. Varnishes, waxes, and
acrylic coatings are all suitable - anything
that could go OK on a painting. Topcoats
also make the surface easier to clean.

Acrylic doesn't like to be treated like
watercolor - a too-thin wash doesn't allow
the polymers to bond properly in drying,
and they can easily wear off of a smooth
vitrified clay surface. It can be used this
way on undervitrified clay, though, where
the pigment gets soaked into the pores of
the clay. (Application works best if the
surface is dampened first). A topcoat is
a good idea if you try this.

Naturally, paints are totally inappropriate
for foodware - fragile, hard to clean, and
sometimes quite toxic. They can be used on
non-food functional objects, but will not
be as durable as a glazed surface if the
object is handled roughly or often. Paint
will also have a short lifespan outdoors,
and I would suggest using only fired surfaces
for outdoor work.

In addition to acrylics, oil paints, enamels,
casein, encaustic, spray paint and others
will also work just fine, depending on your
purpose. Just treat it like you would for any
other application. Fired clay is a great
substrate for paint, as it's actually more
chemically neutral, dimensionally stable and
physically durable than most of the other
things people put paint on.

In fact, almost anything can be used as a
coating for ceramics, depending on your
desired outcome. Tar, wax, glitter, chewing
gum, flocking, mulch, fabric, plastic resin,
paper, mosaic, electroplating...the list is
almost infinite. Glaze can't do everything.
And why should it be expected to?

Glaze may be the best coating ever devised
for foodware, but if that's not your intended
purpose, then why be limited by that paradigm?
That would just be silly.

-Snail

Lynn Goodman Porcelain Pottery on sun 11 feb 07


On Feb 10, 2007, at 7:30 PM, Stephanie Wright wrote:

>
>
> I saw an artist's work recently that was absolutely beautiful. The
> description I read along with the pieces said he decorates his pottery
> using acrylic paints (and sometimes goldleaf). I thought it was very
> interesting. Has anybody here on the list tried this method of
> decoration?
> Can you tell me how it is done, or point me in the right direction on
> where to research this? Am I correct in assuming that this would be
> done
> post-firing, and need to be sealed with some sort of clear topcoat?
>
> Stephanie

Hi Stephanie,

This is actually pretty easy to do. Gesso your fired pot, then paint
your design in acrylic paint. You won't need to seal the paint--the
gesso and paint will both seal the surface.

There are gold leaf kits you can buy to get started on the technique;
most well-stocked art supply stores will have them. Once you have the
technique down, you can buy the materials separately.

Regards,
Lynn

Lynn Goodman
Fine Porcelain Pottery
Cell 347-526-9805
www.lynngoodmanporcelain.com

Neal on mon 12 feb 07


The speaker at the Triangle Potters Guild meeting
in December was Victoria Sexton. Her work is
sculptural. She uses "cold finishes" on the pieces.

Her FAQ says, "This is a high falootin' way of
saying paint, which is what it is. I apply a base
coat color and then use as many as seven coats of
diluted acrylic paint to get the desired effect.
I also use Prisma pencils to add line and textures
as well as using colored waxes (Rub and Buff). The
finish is sealed with a matte medium."

Here's the link to her website:

http://www.pwartware.com/

Neal O'Briant
neal126@yahoo.com



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