Painting and Ceramics

Paint

 Paint

Painting is the art of graphic representation using pigments mixed with other binding substances, organic or synthetic. In this art, painting techniques, knowledge of color theory and pictorial composition, and drawing are used.

Painting techniques

 Painting techniques

Mainly, the difference between paints is the way in which they dissolve and fix the color pigment.

1. Acrylic paint
2. Oil painting
3. Watercolor
4. Gouache
5. Chinese ink

Painting and Ceramics

 Painting and Ceramics

 Painting and Ceramics is a beautiful experience and a very important career that the Banos educational unit has. The technical career of drawing, painting and ceramics offers the objective of achieving learning related to the various training fields that go hand in hand with disciplines of theoretical foundation, (aesthetics, criticism, artistic discourse analysis, curatorship, semiotics, among others), as well as practical art disciplines (drawing, painting, sculpture, printing systems, or other more experimental ones).

Ceramics

  CERAMICS

 DID YOU KNOW ?

Ceramic pieces are made from natural clays and mineral components mixed with additives of different kinds. Once molded, decorated and sometimes enameled, they are subjected to a firing process in one or several stages, which will provide them with the necessary hardness and stability.

What materials are needed in ceramics?

 What materials are needed in ceramics?

Ceramics has become a great hobby in recent years, since apart from helping us to be more creative, when the work is finished, the satisfaction is enormous. It is also an art that can be practiced from the smallest to the largest. Likewise, you don't need a large investment to create great objects. Next, we are going to see what are the basic materials that you will need to get started in artisan ceramics. Remember that, although there are many materials specifically designed for ceramics, most of them can be replaced by others you have at home.

Clay or mud

 clay or mud

There are different types on the market: earthenware, stoneware, porcelain or low-temperature porcelain. It also depends a lot on what we want to create. Resistant materials are usually baked so that they can be used without fear of damage or melting when wet, for example. However not everyone has access to a ceramic kiln.

As a general rule, the firing mud is divided into that which is of low temperature (950ºC to 1100ºC) and that which is of high temperature (1200ºC to 1280ºC). Each one has different textures and colors. There are also air-drying clays for making handmade pottery. They are more fragile, but they do not need to be baked, so if you do not have access to an oven, we definitely recommend that you go for this option.

Tools

 Tools

As for the tools, we can distinguish several types:

– The steks, which are used for modeling and can be found in metal, wood and plastic.

– The punch, which can be replaced by a needle or pin, is used to puncture.

– The brushes, which are used to work with clay and enamels. It tends to break with use and it is not necessary that they be special for ceramics, so you can use any.

– The wire cutter, which you can substitute for thread, is used to cut the large piece of clay into the small pieces with which you are going to work.

– The punch, which can be replaced by a cutter, is used to delicately cut excess mud.

– The drainer, which is used to make adjustments in bowls or bowls.

– The kidney, which is used to smooth mud and remove most imperfections.

– A bowl with water, to moisten the mud.

– A roller, it does not matter if it is the kitchen one, which is used to flatten the mud.

– Wooden sticks to measure the thickness of the mud (they are usually 5mm thick).

– Materials to make textures, such as grids, plant leaves, fabrics or anything else you have at home.

– Plasticized fabric, to protect your work surface

– Plaster molds, in case you want to use molds.

Remember that not all of these tools are necessary, but most will help make the job easier.

Paints, enamels and varnishes

 Paints, enamels and varnishes

Once the piece is molded, if it is air-dried, it should be allowed to dry and then you can move on to acrylic paint, to give it color. Once the piece is dry, you can give it a layer of specific varnish for air-drying clay that will protect it a little more. You can find it matte or glossy.

On the other hand, if the piece is going to be baked, it must be enameled. The enamels will give it a shine that will make the piece shine. Special slips or markers can also be used.

Steps to make ceramic

 Steps to make ceramic

1. The first thing you should do is knead the clay so that it mixes well and is somewhat more elastic. This will help you work it better. Use string to extract a piece of clay from the block you have and start kneading it.
2. Once the mud is kneaded, spread it out with the help of a rolling pin to get it to have a homogeneous thickness. Remember that it is recommended that it be about 5mm thick.
3. Begin to shape it, depending on the piece you want to create. You can use bowls, plates and cups that you have at home as a mold, they will help you to make the piece symmetrical.
4. Once the piece is finished, let it dry. If it has to be baked, you should take it to cook. The temperatures used are usually between 980ºC and 1020ºC.
5. Once dry and/or baked, they will be ready to paint and decorate. Remember that the baked goods must undergo a cooking process again so that it takes on its color and final characteristics.
6. Finally, let it dry and/or cool and enjoy your handmade ceramic pieces!