Intro to China/Porcelain Painting

Intro to China/Porcelain Painting

Sun. June 23, noon-4:00

With the industrial revolution in the West, hand painting moved out of the factories and into the parlours of Victorian era hobbyists; eventually almost becoming a lost art! Today, however, china painting is celebrating a revival, and reclaiming its status as a fine art form. Join Alberta University of the Arts Jewellery + Metals Instructor, Joan Irvin, to learn more about this versatile overglaze technique, and how to work with these powdered mineral "paints." Workshop will include:

. how to set up a paint box (according to chemically compatible colours)

. how to mix your paints (for painting vs. application with a nib pen)

. "open" versus "closed" painting mediums

. best brushes (bristles, shapes, sizes, etc.)

. basic application (& removal) techniques

. firing tips & temperatures

. where to purchase supplies, and more

Students should bring:

. 2-3 white glazed tiles (hand made or commercial, not necessarily porcelain: 4" size preferred, no larger than 6" please) OR a couple of small white glazed pieces to decorate

. a variety of soft bristle paint brushes (IF you have some)

. a nib pen, preferably with a crow nib (IF you have one)

. dust mask (IF you want to try mixing paint)

. small glass jar with metal lid (approx. 45 ml - such as those used for eye cream or jam samples)

(Instructor will provide china paints & misc. supplies for this workshop.)

Artist Biography - Joan Irvin

Joan Irvin is an inter-disciplinary artist and educator, holding degrees (with Distinction)

in both Ceramics and Jewellery/Metals. She has taught in the Jewellery + Metals

Program at the Alberta College of Art + Design (now Alberta University of the Arts) for

over 15 years, and instructed workshops for dozens of organizations throughout Canada's

western provinces and territories. Joan's current studio practice includes research into the

use of ceramic materials on vitreous jewellery enamels. However -- her diverse practice

also encompasses small-scale sculpture, goldsmithing, anodizing of niobium & titanium,

and porcelain painting. Her first introduction to china paints was in a summer jewellery

class with Jamie Bennett at Penland School of Crafts, but Joan has subsequently taken

china painting workshops with American artist Valerie Zimany and Calgary artist Glenda

Lenz. She has also participated in two ceramic residencies at Medalta's International

Artists in Residence Program. Passionate about sharing skills and "building culture,"

Joan has received numerous awards including an ACAD Alumni Legacy Award (2016),

and the Alberta Craft Council's Award of Honour (2009). She served as supervisor of

Calgary's Wildflower & North Mount Pleasant Arts Centres from 1989-99, and continues

to be involved with numerous arts organizations, including Calgary's Hand Made Here

Artist Collective.