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Alberta Porcelain Artists Calgary (APAC) is a non-profit organization created in 1976 to promote porcelain art for everyone to enjoy. We offer artists an opportunity to meet, learn, teach and enjoy this very distinctive art form.
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Porcelain Art originated in the Ming dynasty and has developed over the centuries. Enormous complexities are attained in design, medium and concept. There is no limit to our subject matter or creative expression.. The canvas can be porcelain, ceramic, pottery or glass. The artist must carefully consider the best combination of design and canvas to create the final result. It is at this stage that the creative concept truly begins. Not every design will enhance every canvas and not every canvas will enhance every design. The results may be utilitarian or purely decorative, classical or contemporary. |
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Porcelain painting is one of the Fired Arts. Various mixing mediums such as oil, glycerine, milk, or soda pop are used to apply the paint. Then the piece is fired in a kiln. The very high temperatures (1200° - 1600° F) open the surface of the canvas so that the pigment is incorporated into it making the painting permanent. The translucency of the paint means that an artist can use as little as one or as many as 40 layers to achieve the depth and dimension of the creation. The paints themselves involve a study in chemistry. Paints used in porcelain art are natural, dry earth pigments which become translucent when fired. Many paints contain minerals such as manganese, cobalt, iron and selenium. The artist must consider how these pigments react to heat, to each other, and to other materials. |
Metallic paints, enamels, lusters, and metals (gold, white gold, copper, silver, etc.) can be applied to add dimension. Lusters are very transparent (think of a rainbow). Metallics, enamels and metals are opaque which makes them especially useful on a dark canvas.
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![[img]](/files/4304/Regis1.png)
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The porcelain "slip" can be infused into natural fabric to attain a specific shape or design. The lace on this doll was saturated in liquid porcelain then formed into the dress before firing. The lace itself burns up in the kiln, leaving its design permanently captured in porcelain. Tap the picture for a close up. |
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Artist Margit Damgaard |
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See more pieces created by our members on our Facebook page: APAC.Alberta Porcelain Artists
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