Portrait of Andrea

Sol Labos Brien · 03-11-2006, 11:26 PM

This is my first post on this forum. I don't know how it will turn out. Hopefully you will be able to see the pictures. I had to make them so much smaller than usual in order to post them here. I painted this portrait of miss Andrea from a photograph I took of her when she was 7 years old. It is painted on a porcelain plaque using china paints that have to be fired several times at very high temperatures. Let me know what you think.

Mischa Milosevic · 03-12-2006, 04:54 AM

She is quite lovely! You have represented her beauty and poise brilliantly. Grate work!

Richard Monro · 03-12-2006, 06:40 AM

Wonderful portrait and very interesting medium. Could you tell us a little bit more about painting on porcelain?

Sol Labos Brien · 03-12-2006, 01:23 PM

Portraits on porcelain tiles are done with mineral colors in the form of extremely finely grinded powders / pigments that we mix with an oily medium. These particles of colors are applied in delicate washes and fuse with the glaze of the porcelain in the kiln at high temperature. These washes are spread out so thinly that they are almost transparent. It is by applying several coats on several fires that you can achieve the desired flesh tint. A first fire portrait might look sort of faded. You can see the pictures of some of the steps here attached. The drawing is transferred to the porcelain, it is the outmost importance that the first fire is painted correctly in the placing of the eyes, nose, mouth, ears as once fired it will be impossible to correct unlike oil painting. As long at the piece has not been fired, it can be wiped clean and restarted as many times as necessary.

Claudemir Bonfim · 03-13-2006, 07:07 AM

Very, very beautiful and interesting work. I always enjoyed landscapes and portraits on porcelain.

Sol Labos Brien · 03-13-2006, 09:58 AM

Thank you Claudemir for the appreciation. I love painting on porcelain because it is a challenge also. Your painting depends on how the colors will react to the heat, it is always with great expectation that we open the kiln an discover if we did the right thing and if the kiln behaved as we planned. So it is not only thinking that we painting it right but we have to think what temperature will suit best the different colors and steps. That is what makes this art form so exciting. I wish more artist would take it up before it disappears.
Best wishes and thanks for looking in.

Sharon Knettell · 03-13-2006, 10:06 AM

Beautiful exquisite work with a high level of craftmanship.

Visit his website at www.atelierdebercy.com to see some gorgeous work in porcelain. The white plate with gold painted birds is alone worth the trip.

Sol Labos Brien · 03-13-2006, 10:35 AM

Hi Sharon,
Thank you for the kind words and for inserting the link. My name brings always confusion. Sorry to disapoint but I am a she. I have to insert my picture but don't know how yet, I just started on this forum a couple of days ago so I have a lot to learn.
Many thanks

Marina Dieul · 03-13-2006, 11:15 AM

Hi Sol,
I'm not far from you.
You are making a beautiful work ! What are the dimensions of your exemples?
I know very little about ceramics and glaze but I had so much fun discovering the result when it goes out of the kiln, I understand your excitation!
I know a ceramic artist ( it's not exacly the same ) in France, and she once told me that a whole life is not enough to make all the experimentations to control completely the process.

Sol Labos Brien · 03-13-2006, 12:21 PM

Hi Marina,
Nice to meet you here. You are welcome to come to the Atelier any time. The plaques measure 8" X 12" most of them but they varry. Sometimes I paint large scenes as this one and it requires the largest that can be produced without breaking. I teach painting on porcelain as you can see on my web site, it is always a pleasure to explain the process.
Thanks a lot for taking the time to look and comment my work. Your words are very kind.
Sol