Choose a focal point in your choice of design and produce a unique decoration by painting on bisque ceramic. Glazes/stains are used and brilliant colours is the result.

Decoration is a term used for many craft forms. In this article we are concentrating on one form of decorating on ceramic bisque.

The difference between painting and decorating can be explained with painting being a blending and application of colours covering a whole area. Decoration on the other hand is choosing a portion of a design and applying it to a piece as a feature.

Ceramic decoration is choosing a focal point of interest and applying it with simplicity. Painting is an inclusion on a number of designs to make up the whole.

Materials used:

The design used in this exercise is applied to a bisque plate. (Bisque is fired clay, can be porcelain, without a glaze.)

There are a number of brands where you can choose the glazes that appeal to you or those suitable for the type of decoration you wish to do. His is a simple method which can be enjoyed by the hobbyist to produce an artistic piece without having to fire the stains/paints.

The finished piece is used for a decorative article only and not domestic ware.

The glazes described here are actually bisque stains but, used correctly, one can achieve vivid tones of colour or muted hues by mixing white with the colours from the brand you may use.

HINT: Suppliers will advise the correct stain glazes for the no-fire decoration technique.

Let's begin:

Your work area must be clean and well ventilated. Materials required are the choice of colours, a palette knife, and clean tile for mixing paint on and of course good quality brushes.

Step1. Lightly sand the plate with fine emery paper and dust off the powdery particles. Seal the surface with either aerosol fixative or the alternative is to brush on the sealer with very even strokes, using a wide, flat sable brush. Allow approximately a half an hour for drying time.

Step.2. Using a soft pencil lightly sketch the design (in this case a Waratah.) Perhaps you will feel the necessity to trace.

HINT: When transferring your design from the tracing paper it is important not to press too heavily with your tracing tool.

Step 3. With the palette knife, take the clear red from the container and place the paint on the on the tile, thin with water if necessary. Using a N05 pointed sable brush, stroke from the centre of the flower out to the point of the petal, lifting the brush and so acquiring a soft line.

Wash the brush well, then apply dark green to the leaves. Brush your strokes from the centre vein out to the edge of the leaves, following the contour of the leaves, forming a corrugated edging familiar to this type of leaf.

Step 4. Mix some brown with red and shade into the centres of the petals giving dimension to your flower, keeping your strokes even and allowing the tones to blend as you shade. This tone is also used for the depth of colour in the centre of the Waratah.

Step 5. NOTE: It is not artistically pleasing to the eye to mix white with red for the highlights as the highlight is not pink. A more natural-looking tone is available when yellow is mixed with the red and white. Brush this colour tone onto the petal highlights, blending with your shadow and the original application of red.

Step 6. Highlight the leaves using a lighter green; leave a variation of light and dark to give the leaf a flowing look.

HINT: Mix yellow with light green and with a sable pointed brush, suggest the centre vein. Avoid taking this vein right to the top of the leaf. Softly paint in the veins which run from the centre vein placing one just above the other.

Step 7. Load your N0 6 brush with dark brown, paint in the stem, adding another coat if further depth is required.

Mix an ochre colour with white and highlight the nodules of the branch, also blend this colour into the tips of the petals.

Step 8. Using a fine sable brush and clear red, accentuate the detail of the flower and the tips of the petals, avoiding a stiff appearance.

When your decorative artwork is completed and dry, then spray with either matt or gloss sealer.

These instructions can be used for any decoration application you wish to apply; a suggestion for you is to keep your design flamboyant as a chosen focal point.

Many bisque shapes can be purchased so enjoy your ceramic experience.