Handpainting Glass or Ceramic Tiles

Having received a commission to create handpainted ceramic tiles for a customer, the search for the perfect paint began. Remember, you can paint on just about anything that will sit still and some things that don't (see our article on Face Painting: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art41095.asp). Ceramic tiles are no exception. But the ones I have done before were just for decoration and the oil paints I used then would not hold up to being installed on a wall, let alone to cleaners for years to come.

My search began online ... Google is my friend! It ended with a visit to Dick Blick's website. There I found two brands available. One was a brand that I have used before that requires no heat setting, but is permanent when it dries. The other brand, Pebeo, was one I had never heard of, but it promised to give a permanent finish when it was heat set in a conventional oven.

Pebeo makes two series of glass paints. The first, Porcelaine 150, offers transparent, semi-transparent and opaque colors and says that these "water-based paints can be applied to any heat-stable surface —porcelain, crockery, terra-cotta, metals, ceramics, glass, etc. Fire them in a home oven at 300°F for 30 minutes for a finish that's as permanent as baked enamel".

The other type, Vitrea 160, offered only transparent colors, available in frosted and glossy finishes. This series, also water-based, "can be applied to glassware, vases, lamps, and even an entire window surface. The Vitrea 160 line includes frosted paints for an etched-glass look, and mediums that allow for reproduction of crackled, iridescent and frosted glass effects."

Although I did not need the special effects, the transparent Vitrea 160 series gives a fused glass look when baked in the oven for 40 minutes at 325 degrees. This sounded like just what I was after, so I placed the order.

Both series are available in sets and individual bottles. Many colors are also available in both fine line markers, broad line markers and outliners which give a raised line. My order included some of each so I could try out all of the goodies.

The Vitrea 160 colors are truly very transparent, as promised. The effect on the tiles was beautiful after it was baked. The fused glass effect, however, is sure to be more apparent on clear glass. It needs the light to shine through to get the most beautiful look.

You must be careful not to use either product on surfaces that will come into contact with food. If you want to use them on dishes, they must be used on the outside, like reverse glass painting (we will discuss that in another article).

At this point, I realized I also needed to get some opaque coverage. Back to the Dick Blick website with an order for the Porcelaine 150 colors. Not all of the colors are opaque, but the ones that are give very good coverage. The effect when baked is truly like a fired ceramic finish. It was necessary to order all new colors since the website states that the two types cannot be mixed.

When decorating ceramics, you put this goop on the blank pieces and come out with beautiful colors and textures that you can really use. What fun! Although you cannot put the Pebeo paints on surfaces that will come in contact with food, the effect on the tiles is reminiscent of the kiln-fired finishes. It was just what I was looking for.

Handling the paints has turned out to be a little like a cross between using acrylics and watercolors. They dry very quickly and you must wash your brush frequently. Using soft brushes, preferably sable or synthetic sable, is definitely the way to go. You get a texture and graduated color effects by stippling on colors with a stiffer brush.

One of the advantages of using transparent colors is the ability to layer colors (watercolor style) in order to get depth or to get a different color. These paints work great layering blue and yellow in several coats than in mixing them to get a green.

Everything will be different when the paints are used on clear glass and light can show through the work. I have decided to paint Christmas presents this year with the new paints! I'm thinking a pitcher with glasses and maybe clear glass plates painted on the back with charger plates to put under them. How festive! Think about a Happy Birthday plate personalized for a special child or a whole place setting for each member of the family. The possibilities go on and on.

If you decide to try these or another brand of glass paints or if you already decorate glass, won't you go to our forum and share your experience with us? Our forum is here: http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=405

Thanks for joining us. Please contact me with any questions or suggestions for article subjects.

Paula Devore
Painting Editor

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