Hand Made & Hand Painted Tiles
Our tiles are made from slabs of moist Porcelain or Iron bearing clays which are rolled out to any thickness requested. They are hand cut to any size from 3"square to 18"square or odd, irregular and uneven sizes. The paintings are created using mixtures of colored clays and underglazes. These are pigments suspended in clays or glazes. They can be applied in many painterly and "printerly" techniques. The advantage in using ceramic color in this way is the durability of ceramic materials. They are totally light fast (for centuries!) and as hard as rock. After the image is painted, the tile is fired to 2125 degrees Fahrenheit. Then a clear gloss glaze is applied and the tile is fired again.
The tiles are suitable for hanging as original artwork with or without a frame. We make ceramic frames suitable for hanging or architectural wall installation, or they can be framed in the traditional way using wooden or composite materials.Each ceramic frame is a one-of-a-kind piece with varying borders and textures designed to suit the image on the tile.
The images come from the real and imagined lives of our pets, visits to local places as well as trips abroad. Recent trips to Italy, Ireland and Cape Cod have inspired many works. Our home base in the Hudson Valley of New York is a constant source of imagery. I usually paint the tiles after doing many reference drawings and color studies. Themes are developed over time so that series can be created while experimenting with color and composition. The kiln plays a significant role in the finished pieces-- the colors, although accurate while painting change during the firing--often deepening hues or revealing underpainting through translucent layers of color giving surprising depth to the surface. This is the beauty and magic of clay combined with the application of intense heat that cannot be duplicated in any other medium. |
