Tutorial - PAINTING WITH Enamels - By Vivek Das - India

  • Leader
    April 25, 2011 12:00 PM EDT

    Turn on the Kiln -

    Pull out your copper, enamels, sifters, brushes

    and add some imagination.

    Let's get PAINTING!


     

     

     

    1. Start with a copper sheet heated with a torch to burn out all the dirt and oil from it

    surface. I use an LPG Blow Torch.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    2. Clean with brass brush after pickling in a diluted solution of sulfuric acid to make the metal surface absolutely clean. You can also use a combination of Vinegar & Common Salt.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    3. After drying the copper sheet with a cotton cloth, I put a spoonful of liquid flux on the center, counter side first.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    4. Move the spoon rapidly in circular motion towards the outside, spreading the flux evenly across the metal. Allow to dry thoroughly under a heating lamp or the sun.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    5. I remove a fine line of flux from the counter side edge to avoid water marks. Usually, when we apply colors  both sides at one time, the other side sucks water from the front creating  very bad looking watermarks.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    6. Place a flux coating on both sides. I do this to save one firing as well as to protect the metal sheet from warping as I use very thin sheet for these small paintings, (5"x5") less than .5mm thick.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    7. Creating the Design. I prefer to scratch the lines with a wooden tool rather than a metal tool. Although I scratch the lines free hand, drawing can be traced on flux coated metal. If your interested in this process, just ask, and I will be happy to post.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    8. When the line drawing is completed to your satisfaction, and the enamel is completely dry, you are now ready to fire.

    This is the 1st firing.

     

    Note:  If your piece is not completely dry before firing the colors will bubble. Use a heating lamp, or the sun ( as I do) to dry the enamels for at least one hour.


     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    9. Although lines darken after firing, they get broadened in further firings, so they need to be protected.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    10. After cooling down, apply a very diluted and thin flux coating. I call it "sealing of the lines". This is applied on the entire surface. See that the flux has entered all the lines.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    11. Second firing - After firing the the lines turn into a nice dark shiny brown and the surface turns to a beautiful skin color.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    12. Now I roughly color the initial sketch. This helps to choose the right colors.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    13. Now the coloring starts. I chose a charcoal shade liquid enamel for the background and sky blue for the dress.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    14. Liquid White is then applied for highlights of the skin. First a big drop of white is placed where the highlight is required and then picking up  water in a thicker brush (#3), I apply it all around the white patch, causing the white to gradually spread and give a nice shading. I use Zinc White instead of Tin White because Zinc is not as strong as Tin.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    15. If the white enamel crawls into the lines, it can be removed with the help of a pointed bamboo stick. Dry and give the piece its 3rd firing.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    16. Follow the color sketch by having prepared enamels handy to finish the piece fast. Very few tools are required. Use two size brushes (#1 & #3), tiny sieves of #60 & #80 mesh and a pointed wooden stick. My sieves are handmade, and I will be happy to share how to make them in a post.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    17. Colors which are to be used wet are kept in the palette and the enamels to be sifted are stored in their jars .

     

     

     

    18. Eyeballs, eyebrows and nose lines are filled with wet opaque crystal enamels.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    19. Extreme highlights are sifted with Opaque white.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    20. Use Transparent enamels so that after firing all the hair lines are clearly visible.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    21. Different transparent shades of enamel are used on the hair for interest.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    22. Opaque Pink or Light Transparent Red can be used for darker shades of skin. Here I have used Opaque Rose. This is almost the final stage. 4th Firing.

    Sometimes one more firing may be required if the surface gloss is not even. A fine layer of flux solves this problem.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    THIS IS THE FINAL PAINTING

     

     

    I always keep this size of paintings.

    In exhibitions, if I fail to sell anything (fortunately that has

    never happened), these go like hot cakes and

    thus the initial cost gets covered.

     

    People buy them because they are:

    Reasonable or affordable, original hand painted works.

    Enamel paintings are maintenance free.

    Handy and giftable.

    Happy Enameling!........Vivek Das

     

    http://www.dasvivek.com/

     

     

     

     

     

  • Member
    May 9, 2011 3:57 AM EDT

    i went through the whole process...its written in such a clear format with steps and perfect pictures, that even a beginner like me understud it well. i hav tried this earlier bt my flux had got rolled at corners, now i understud y..i m goin to try it at my place now...with ur steps...n i know it will turn out well...thanxx

  • Member
    May 9, 2011 4:01 AM EDT

    i also liked ur colouring techniques..the way u used the flux colour for skin tone n added highlights and dark patches accordingly..gr8 guidlines...

  • Leader
    May 9, 2011 7:31 AM EDT

    Thank you Aarti,

    I agree that Vivek did a great job explaining and you will have to post your work showing us how your piece came out of the kiln.

  • Member
    May 10, 2011 12:58 PM EDT
    Hi Aarti, i am sure you will do it. Just a little patience is required and I have observed in this workshop you have lots of it. Regards
  • June 7, 2012 11:48 AM EDT

    Hi Vivek,

    An excellent work! i love your painting and i'm going to try it right away...

    Could you share how to make the tiny sieves, too? Thanks a lots.

  • Member
    June 7, 2012 12:57 PM EDT

    Hi Isha,

    In indian language Isha means god.

    All my tiny sieves are distributed. I am going to make a fresh lot in a few days, I will take pics and will be pleased to post them for you.

    About the oil you asked, I prefer sesame oil with a drop of glycerin. Regards

  • June 7, 2012 8:42 PM EDT

    thank you so much for a prompt reply.

    can you tell me how to transfer my design on to a flux coated sheet?

    i made a design but it is not easy to do with free hand.

  • Member
    June 10, 2012 11:19 PM EDT

    Here are some images for you.........

  • June 11, 2012 11:29 AM EDT

    Thank you so much for the instruction on how to. They are really excellent and clear, I don't know how to thank you enough for your troubles for making these for me.

    Yes, my name ‘Isha’ was given by Indian Master in Pune India, where I had been lived there many years ago. I was there in several times for many months each time and had happiest days in my life.

    I’ll let you see some of my finished works when I am done later.

    Have a nice day!!! Oh, I have to close my message with kisses as I’m so grateful to your kindness.

    X X X      ^.^