Ingrid Lee Art

A quick and easy Tutorial for lustres and marbelizer as they are completed in 2 firings.  This project is inspired by a creative thinking technique of looking for possibilities   I’ve included some other examples of plates I’ve started and adapted the idea.  In this first piece, the poppy flower was discovered from the lustred background after the decorative technique was completed…..

1) Clean your porcelain with methylated spirits.

2) Sponge Dark blue luster all over porcelain….I did not add lustre thinner.

3) While still wet, spatter with marbelizer.  I dip an old toothbrush into marbelizer and run my finger along the wet brush and spatter it onto the porcelain.  Make sure the brush is facing away from you. or you will spatter your eyes and face!  I wear gloves!!!

4) You can see in the painting, there is a large white area.  So I dampen a piece of folded paper towelling (I use handee ultra or viva- as there is no lint and they are thicker quality) into some methylated spirits and wipe out the shape of some poppy petals.

Folded paper towelling....I use wedges of sponge for sponging my lustres.

5) Allow to dry completely and fire at 750C.

6) Wipe over with plate with methylated spirits.  Using a pen nib, paint the design of the poppy flower in liquid platinum.  I used dot work, as this followed the desing element of ‘spots’ left behind by the marbeliser.  Leaves are applied with a #3 round brush.  Fire at 750-740C.

COMPLETED IN 2 FIRINGS!!!

Here are two other plates where I’ve used the similar techniques to give you some more ideas…both are painted by using left over lustres from other projects…so that your lustres don’t go to waste, I always have some pieces of porcelain that I can experiment with

The daisies on this piece are wiped out with a brush and dampened paper towelling and fired.  The next firing will be adding platinum and gold penwork for definition.

This last piece…I have no idea!!!  Like I said, I use left overs to experiment with for colour, textures and to push the boundaries of a product.  One of the most important things I teach in my masterclasses is that while you can explore freedom and boundaries in art, you still must observe and record to make it purposeful and useful to develop you artwork further…keep a journal for this type of work, so that if you’re happy with something- you’ll remember how you did it!

If you have any questions, please ask in the comments below   Check out more of my porcelain work in the gallery in the menu, or at my Ingrid Lee- Artist fan page.