Designing the Peacock Sugar Bowl

Today, I gained numerous valuable insights that I wish to share with you. You can purchase paint and various ceramic or porcelain items to decorate, ensuring you always have a gift ready for occasions like Mother's Day or for a friend you may have almost forgotten, not that this is a personal anecdote.

Lesson #1: Adjust your expectations regarding even the most premium French ceramic paint. It is not equivalent to Rembrandt, Sennelier, Schmincke, or Daniel Smith Watercolor paints, which are currently among the most expensive in the world.

Consider using these paints as unique, very thick, and somewhat temperamental finger paints (though not with your fingers), and the results will be impressive!

These paints cure effectively, and once baked, they resist scratching even with your fingers, which is why they are recommended.

I tested the "Pasca" "Ceramic" paints, and they can be removed if you attempt to do so. In contrast, Pēbēo earns high marks for durability, with claims from the manufacturer that they are dishwasher safe and suitable for use with food.

Lesson #2: Working with contoured porcelain or ceramic items is significantly more challenging than flat tiles. Maintaining proportionality is crucial as the curvature of objects like cups or bowls can obscure parts of your artwork.

Lesson #3: Unlike acrylic or watercolor paints, or even the "Pasca" ceramic paint, removing this paint from porcelain is notably difficult. I attempted to use an Exacto razor blade, but it remained stubbornly adhered.

Lesson #4: Even the slightest hairline crack will become pronounced under the paint, so it's essential to inspect your item beforehand. This issue arose with a Haviland 1908 cup adorned with real gold leaf, although perhaps only I noticed.

Lesson #5: I may reconsider in the future, but for now, my rule is: less is more. Avoid adding or mixing paints or using complex palettes on porcelain unless working on a large piece. My projects have been no larger than four inches, which is quite limited in space.

Lesson #6: Reflecting on Neil Postman's commentary on the telegraph and television, just because you can be aware of global events doesn't mean you should, or that it will benefit you. While working, I considered two significant contrasts.

Firstly, I thought of talented yet overworked twelve-year-old children in distant sweatshops who could outperform my efforts. They likely produce hundreds daily using secret techniques in factories thousands of miles away, selling them for about $1 each. This realization was somewhat disheartening.

However, I then considered how pastimes and trades like this are rare today. I don't know anyone who does this type of artistry anymore. If you do, please connect with me; I'd love to learn from you.

Historically, mastering such skills was valuable for families, both as a source of income and for creating beautiful, functional items for the home. Unlike today, they couldn't purchase inexpensive, mass-produced ceramics. Beauty in their homes was often the result of personal effort and community learning. Returning to Neil Postman's point: it's best not to compare your work to some anonymous, unkown source that you will never meet or encounter. Focus on creating a high quality product for someone specific

. As Chesterton suggested, "if it is worth doing, then it is worth doing poorly [at first]."

Lesson #7: When working on small porcelain objects like teacups, avoid using the manufacturer's pens, which are too large. Opt for a paintbrush size like 00/10 or smaller, requiring frequent dipping due to its fine hairs. A small object necessitates a very small brush.

Lesson #8: If uncertain about designs between objects, consider the nature of each item. For instance, I painted a peacock on a pitcher and added tiny peacock feathers with eyes on the bowl. If painting a car on a cup, consider adding wheels on the plate. Avoid relying on internet images; instead, step back and assess what complements the object. You might discover a pattern reminiscent of another culture, as people did before the internet by relying on their creativity.