Ceramic painting:
techniques and artistic solutions Automatic translate

Ceramic painting is one of the oldest and most developed areas of decorative and applied art, which combines technical knowledge of the properties of clay, glazes and paints with the artistic skill of creating ornaments and images.

This art covers a variety of techniques, from the simplest engobe coatings to the most complex multi-layered compositions using precious metals, and is represented in the cultures of all continents with different regional characteristics and stylistic trends.

Contemporary ceramic painting continues to evolve, integrating traditional methods with new materials and technologies, ensuring this art form’s continued relevance in both the artistic and industrial spheres.

History of the development of ceramic painting

Ancient Origins and Early Traditions

Ceramic painting has its roots in ancient times, when the first ornaments appeared in the Neolithic period when clay products were decorated with simple geometric patterns. Archaeological finds indicate that even in the most ancient civilizations, people sought not only to create functional dishes, but also to give them aesthetic value through decorative design.

The history of majolica began in the countries of the Ancient East: Egypt, Persia, Babylonia, where ceramic tiles (glazed tiles) were initially used to decorate the walls and ceilings of architectural ensembles. These cultures developed the first technologies of colored glazing and painting, which subsequently spread throughout the world through trade routes.

Of particular importance in the development of ceramic painting was the ancient Greek tradition, where vases were decorated with images of mythological scenes and heroes. These works demonstrated a high level of artistic skill and technical execution, laying the foundation for understanding ceramics as a full-fledged form of fine art.

Medieval Traditions and Regional Schools

In the Middle Ages, Arab traders brought majolica to the Spanish island of Mallorca, from where it got its name. That is why it was initially called "Mallorca", and later the term "majolica" began to be used to refer to all ceramic products with blue and white glaze. Majolica was especially popular in Muslim countries, where religion forbade the use of silver and gold dishes.

In the 14th century, colored tiles in the majolica technique began to be made in Spain and Italy. They became widespread due to their bright colors and durability. Italian craftsmen made a great contribution to the development of the production technique and art of decorating majolica by expanding the range of colors and motifs used.

The Byzantine tradition is represented by outstanding examples, such as the painting of the altar space of the Church of the Virgin Mary Peribleptos in Ohrid (1294/95), which is one of the most striking examples of the new type of liturgical space decoration that developed during the 13th century. These paintings corresponded to the tradition and symbolic understanding of the Byzantine rite, demonstrating the close connection of the program with the rite of Anaphora and liturgical practices.

Eastern traditions and Chinese porcelain

Chinese porcelain represents one of the finest examples of traditional Chinese art and is typically made from the clay mineral kaolinite, combined with a pottery stone known as petuns, feldspar and quartz. Unlike other bottom-fired ceramics, porcelain does not require glaze to make it impermeable, so glaze is applied only for decorative purposes or to prevent staining.

Porcelain is usually decorated under the glaze with colored pigments such as cobalt and copper, or painted over the glaze with colored enamels. Chinese ceramics became famous for their blue and white porcelain with exquisite plant motifs, which later inspired similar works in other countries.

Delftware was painted with cobalt oxide, which produced a bright blue colour after firing, in imitation of the Chinese porcelain of the Ming period, which was particularly prized at the time. Hence the Dutch name for such products: "Delft blue". Later, polychrome overglaze painting was used.

Technical Basics of Ceramic Painting

Types of ceramic materials

Ceramics are made from different types of "raw" components, so there are several types: porcelain, terracotta, majolica and earthenware. Porcelain ceramics have a noble appearance due to their white hue and are a durable material. To obtain porcelain, you need to mix clay, quartz and feldspar.

Terracotta is a material with a rich and bright red-brown shade, which is used to decorate objects. The key property of terracotta is effective moisture absorption. Majolica has a porous texture and a clay shade, covered with glaze and enamel on top, so it is resistant to water. Faience has a porous surface structure and is painted white, for moisture resistance, the products are covered with transparent glazes.

Composition of paints and pigments

Ceramic paint is a special type of coating that includes ceramic powder, resin, pigments and solvents. It has high resistance to abrasion, corrosion and high temperatures, and can form a durable protective layer on the surface of ceramics, glass, metal and other materials.

An artist decorating a piece must remember that overglaze paints before firing have a tone and intensity that change dramatically after firing, so it is necessary to have certain knowledge and skills in the field of chemistry to work with pigments. First, the artist prepares the overglaze paint: the flux is mixed with a dye obtained from a mixture of metal oxides, the choice of oxide is determined by the desired color.

Firing temperature modes

Ceramic products are fired in a kiln at different temperatures depending on the type of material and painting technique. In Chinese ceramics, the porcelain body is usually heated in a kiln to a temperature of 1200 to 1400 degrees Celsius. At such temperatures, glass and other chemical compounds are formed, which give the porcelain rigidity, strength and transparency.

Ceramic paint can form a dense ceramic film at high temperatures, withstand high-temperature firing and high-temperature steam treatment, maintain stability at high temperatures, and will not fall off or deform.

Basic ceramic painting techniques

Underglaze painting

Underglaze painting is a technique in which a design is applied to clay before it is covered with glaze. Before this, the product has either already been through a utility firing or has just dried. Creating a design on a shard without glaze is a rather labor-intensive process that does not tolerate mistakes.

Ceramics is a porous material that easily absorbs moisture, which is why the paint on it hardens quickly. Attempts to erase the drawing lead to dirty streaks remaining on the surface, which are not always possible to remove. Therefore, mainly experienced ceramicists work in the underglaze painting technique.

For underglaze painting, it is important to select the right paints - the glaze hardens at fairly high temperatures (about 1300°C), which not every dye can withstand. As a result, the color palette of underglaze paints is not as extensive as that of overglaze paints. However, painting applied before the glaze is baked has one big advantage - it lasts much longer.

Overglaze painting

Overglaze painting is a technique for decorating ceramic products, in which the products are immediately covered with glaze after firing, then decorated with paints and fired again. The main advantage of overglaze paints compared to underglaze paints is the variety of the color palette.

Overglaze painting is a complex technique and requires great professional skill. To obtain interesting rare shades, it is permissible to mix ready-made powders of different colors, but even in this case it is necessary to know the properties of the oxides included in the powders. High-level craftsmen conduct numerous experiments with dyes.

Engobing technique

Engobe is a thin layer of raw white or colored clay that is applied to the surface of a ceramic product before it is fired. The main function of engobe is to mask the rough texture or unwanted color of the shard. In addition to the continuous or partial coating of products, painting with colored engobes, sgraffito technique and other techniques are used.

Painting with engobes after firing gives a pure color and a slightly relief pattern. Engobe is applied to the product with a brush or a special syringe, similar to those used in cooking. If the painting consists of separate elements, the space between them is covered with metal salts, leaving the natural color of the clay around the drawing.

Engobes give a clear pattern; salts give a soft outline, transparent color, and a blurred line. There are white engobes (made from white-burning clays) and colored engobes (made from clays with color-forming additives, namely pigments from metal oxides).

Sgraffito technique

The technique of engobing was used by ancient ceramicists and masters of Italian majolica during the Renaissance. They used white engobe as a "lining" for painting an item made of red or gray clay and painted with paints on raw white engobe (similar to a fresco). Such ceramics are called semi-faience, in contrast to real faience with a white "shard".

The famous English ceramicist Josiah Wedgwood used engobes in the sgraffito technique. After drying, the engobe is sometimes treated with burnishing, and the vessel is decorated in a different way over this coating.

Regional traditions and styles

Russian traditions of ceramic painting

Gzhel painting

Gzhel painting is considered one of the most characteristic Russian traditions, which arose in Rus’ in the 14th century. Since then, it has not lost its popularity. Today, residents of 27 villages near Moscow are engaged in firing and painting ceramic dishes using this technique.

The future product, not yet covered with painting, is called in professional jargon "linen", and the blue painting on this background is called "covering". Gzhel porcelain is painted by hand - painstakingly, but quickly. Artists evenly and carefully lay down strokes and lines that form an ornament.

Blue cobalt is used to apply the pattern, and it is possible to supplement the pattern with black and gold paints. Initially, the image is applied to wet clay, and then to the glaze. The pattern is a complex floral ornament. There is only one paint - black cobalt, which is diluted with water, like watercolor.

The main secret of Gzhel is the brushstroke, it is what distinguishes Gzhel painting from any other. A real Gzhel master unmistakably feels the correct ratio of tones, distinguishing more than 20 shades of blue. A characteristic technique of Gzhel painting is the so-called "brushstroke with shadows".

Khokhloma painting

Khokhloma painting originated in the 17th century in Nizhny Novgorod. It got its name from the village of Khokhloma. It is believed that the founders of this technique were the Old Believers.

The secret of Khokhloma painting is a special method of preparing the surface. Silver-colored tin powder is used as a base. A special composition is applied on top of it in several layers. The product is fired in a kiln. Then painting is applied to its surface. The colors red, black and gold predominate in the drawing. Sometimes you can see white and green.

Other Russian traditions

Fedoskino painting is a varnish painting technique that originated in the Moscow region, in the village of Fedoskino. The glow and shine effect is achieved by applying a thin layer of gold leaf and mother-of-pearl. After decorating, the product is varnished.

Mezen painting takes its name from the Mezen River, which flows in the Arkhangelsk region. The technique originated in the times of the Slavic tribes. The ornament consists of crosses, rhombuses, solar disks and simple figures. The work uses paint of two colors - red and black.

Palekh painting is characterized by a three-dimensional image. Initially, the product is covered with red or black varnish. Then the images are drawn. The drawings are distinguished by their richness and saturation. Finishing with gold leaf is one of the characteristic features of Palekh painting.

Ukrainian traditions

Ukrainian ceramics are represented by traditional Hutsul, Kosiv and Opishnya paintings, reflecting the local culture. The Hutsul style is characterized by rich ornamentation with geometric and plant motifs, often in a brown-green palette.

European schools

Italian majolica of the Renaissance is distinguished by its characteristic blue-green hue of painting. To produce ceramic products, Italian artisans used soft light clay, and tin was included in the glaze. The pattern was applied with a glaze with a dye based on blue cobalt. Heraldic motifs and ornaments were used in the drawings.

Delftware made the art of ceramics in northern Europe famous before the discovery of European porcelain in the early 18th century. Delftware is a type of pottery that has a dense, fine-pored body of white or greyish clay, covered with an opaque (usually tin) glaze.

Methods of decorating ceramics

Relief decoration

One of the most popular ways to decorate ceramics is relief decoration. This involves creating three-dimensional patterns and ornaments on the surface of the product. Ceramics are decorated with ornaments, engravings, flutes, embossing or applied patterns, which are made using parts of different shapes.

Colorful and smooth decoration

Another way to decorate ceramics is to apply a selected pattern either manually or by spraying. The work requires enamels, paints, and liquid clays. There are different techniques for colorfully decorating ceramics: continuous paint coating, partial coating (only a strip of paint is applied), coating with cleaning (part of the paint is scraped off from a continuous coating).

Artistic painting

Artistic painting is one of the most labor-intensive and complex methods of decorating ceramic products. During their work, ceramic artists use a pen or a brush. The products are covered with liquid gold, paints or chandeliers with a metallic sheen. Talented craftsmen can easily create various drawings, landscapes, portraits and other artistic compositions on ceramic surfaces.

Tools and materials for painting

Selecting Brushes

Working with ceramics requires not only experience, but also the right choice of tools. The choice of brush shape depends on the task to be performed. For uniform painting of backgrounds or large areas (covering), a large round brush with elastic bristles is best suited.

For working out small details and applying a thin outline, it is best to use a round squirrel brush with a sharp end of the appropriate size. Kolinsky and synthetic brushes may have slightly worse filling and recoil, but they can also be used for these purposes.

Flat and fan brushes, both natural and synthetic, allow you to work with glazes, that is, apply the material in an extremely thin layer. They also allow you to draw clear lines of a given width, perform calligraphic work and create spots of the correct geometric shape.

Bristle brushes of any shape and size, due to their rigidity, can be used for rough engobe painting, creating expressive texture and relief, working in mixed media, and applied in monumental art.

Modern paints and materials

Modern paints for ceramics are represented by a wide range of products of various brands. Paints of the brands Rosa Talent, Marabu, Decola are quite often used in design and in modern painting. With their help, you can decorate the interior decoration.

An important factor when choosing a brush is the composition of the glaze itself, as some glazes can negatively affect the natural bristles, causing them to deform or fall out. In such cases, it is better to use synthetic brushes or brushes made of kolinsky hair.

Current trends and applications

Modern trends in ceramic decor

Ceramics are back in the center of interior trends: archaism, gradients, biomorphism, gloss, unique art objects. Juicy shades are returning to interior decor and are increasingly used to create accent points that enliven the space.

Ceramics with glossy finishes add shine and visual depth. This trend is especially popular in tableware and vases. Gradients create a soft transition and look impressive in any light. The fashion for shapes that repeat natural, organic lines continues to develop.

Industrial application

Ceramic painting is used in various industries. In the electronics industry, ceramic paint can provide excellent insulation and high temperature resistance for electronic components, and protect electronic components from environmental corrosion and mechanical damage.

In the automobile industry, ceramic paint can provide wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant, high-temperature protection for automobile parts, can improve the service life and quality of automobile parts. In the chemical industry, ceramic paint can provide chemical equipment with excellent corrosion resistance.

Educational programs

In the educational program of the Department of Art Ceramics and Glass of the St. Petersburg State Academy of Art and Design named after A. L. Stieglitz, copy assignments are closely related to assignments on designing souvenir products. This condition especially concerns those cases when the theme of the souvenir is the historical and artistic heritage of St. Petersburg, the history and traditions of the academy.

The tasks are analyzed using examples of studying various techniques: firing glass painting with silicate paints and glass engraving with diamond wheels. The goal of such programs is to identify the logic of interaction between copy tasks and tasks for designing souvenirs, as well as to consider the stages of work.

Technological innovations and new directions

Self-glazing coatings

The development of construction and its approximation to European standards requires a constant expansion of the range, color range, texture and structure of ceramic clinker for facade cladding. In this regard, it is very important to achieve the necessary physical, technical and architectural properties of products with the maximum possible reduction in firing temperature.

The traditional way to obtain a shiny brick surface is to use glaze or engobes of various compositions and colors. At the same time, the cost of production increases due to the use of additional technological operations and the price of glaze. A technology has been developed for the production of a self-glazing surface of ceramic clinker due to the use of boron compounds in the composition of the ceramic mass.

Mixed media

Ceramic painting involves various techniques that affect the final result of the piece. Engobe painting involves applying colored clay (engobes) before firing. Glazed painting uses colored glazes that take on a glossy appearance after firing.

Decalcomania is the transfer of a finished design onto ceramics before glazing. Engraving is the cutting of patterns into raw clay before firing. These techniques can be combined to create complex multi-layered compositions.

Modern styles and their symbolism

Ceramic painting can have a deep symbolic meaning. The oriental style is characterized by fine patterns in the form of dragons, birds and flowers, symbolizing longevity and wisdom. The Provence style is distinguished by delicate pastel colors, floral compositions and naturalistic images.

Scandinavian minimalism features restrained shapes and colours that highlight the natural beauty of the material. These contemporary trends demonstrate how traditional ceramic painting techniques are adapted to modern aesthetic preferences and functional requirements.

Archaeological evidence for the development of ceramic traditions

Regional features of ancient ceramics

Archaeological research provides valuable information on the development of ceramic traditions in various regions. The ceramic collection of the Baryazin settlement represents materials from various cultural groups, where the majority of the collection is represented by ceramics of the Bakhmutinskaya cultural group. Ceramics of the Ananyino, Pyanoborsk and Mazunino cultures were found in significantly smaller quantities.

The ceramics of the Bakhmutinskaya cultural group are quite homogeneous, both within the studied monument and throughout the territory of the culture. Local features of settlement ceramics are most often expressed in differences in the composition of molding masses. Using the example of ceramics of the Baryazinsky settlement, it was possible to trace the probable vectors of influence of foreign cultural traditions on the pottery of the Bakhmutinskaya culture.

Stratigraphic data

The "Ceramic stratigraphy" of Staraya Ladoga demonstrates the evolution of ceramic traditions in the North-West of Russia. The existing chronological gap in the cultural stratigraphy of the North-West, covering the middle - third quarter of the 1st millennium AD, is gradually beginning to be filled with so-called "pre-sopochnye" monuments.

An attempt was made to identify individual components of the emerging Old Russian culture based on mini-series of vessels from the Ladoga ceramic complex. These studies show how archaeological data help to reconstruct the history of the development of ceramic technologies and artistic traditions.

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Ceramic painting is a multifaceted art that combines technical knowledge, artistic skill and cultural traditions. From the ancient ornaments of Neolithic cultures to modern innovative techniques and materials, this area of ​​decorative and applied art demonstrates an amazing ability to adapt and evolve.

The variety of techniques, from underglaze and overglaze painting to engobe and modern self-glazing coatings, provides masters with ample opportunities for creative expression. Regional traditions such as Russian Gzhel, Italian majolica, Chinese porcelain and others continue to influence contemporary ceramic art, while integrating with new aesthetic trends and technological solutions.

Modern application of ceramic painting covers not only the traditional artistic sphere, but also industrial sectors, where the functional properties of ceramic coatings - wear resistance, corrosion resistance, high-temperature resistance - find practical application. Educational programs ensure the continuity of traditions and the training of new generations of masters.

Archaeological research continues to expand our understanding of the historical development of ceramic traditions, revealing connections between different cultures and regions. This knowledge enriches contemporary practice and contributes to a deeper understanding of the cultural significance of ceramic painting as an important component of human heritage.