After umpteen experiments into producing Delft tiles I have, for now, decided that the most genuine and charming technique is to paint directly onto tiles using cobalt on-glaze and firing them. It has some issues I need to iron out if I can. But for Delftware, transfer decals just don't seem right somehow. That said, transfers continue to wield quite an appeal for me (just not for Delft).
Previous experiments with decals seemed to indicate that a lot depended upon the chemistry, the reaction of firing the transfers onto particular glazed tile surfaces.
So I gathered together 6 different types of tile, sent them to transfer decal manufacturers Digital Ceramic in Stoke-on-Trent and asked them to fire the one particular design onto them to conpare how they each behaved. Here are the results...
All the tiles together; quite a mixed bag!
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| All together |
Delft tile, Authentic (below). The tile I use for painting Delft. But here the transfer has come out quite dark and dull. UNSURE/ REJECTED!
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| AUTHENTIC |
Delft tile, Antique (below). Quite a nice tile this, and a good vibrant colour. Bizarrely, firing the decal has melted the tile surface's crackles away. ACCEPTABLE!
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| ANTIQUE |
Delft tile, Ivory (below). Also quite a successful result. Transfer a little dull but not much, and the tile's crazed surface remains. ACCEPTABLE!
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| IVORY |
Fired Earth, Architecture (below). A larger tile I was considering using for a project I am involved in with Tinsmiths gallery in Ledbury (more of that later). A good bright colour, a good clear surface. ACCEPTABLE!
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| ARCHITECTURE |
Fired Earth, English Delft (below). A rustic and chunky tile, quite thick and irregular. This has fired very well. One of the two or three tiles I am considering using for a tile suite I will create for the Artists of Spitalfields Life exhibition at Ben Pentreath's in November. One of my favourites. ACCEPTABLE!
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| ENGLISH DELFT |
Fired Earth, Soho Garden (below). A lovely solid crackled tile, one I'd pinned a lot of hopes on. But the decal firing was, as you can see, an unmitigated disaster - blurred, dull and uneven. Very firmly REJECTED (alas, alack)!
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| SOHO GARDEN |
Which do you prefer?
4 comments:
Hey Paul. I think maybe the delft tile(antique) but i'm finding it hard to see clearly on the home mac monitor. I need my studio big boy to see clearly. You seem to have a lot of projects in the background... and the move!... When's the CRASH going to come?
I like number 6. I think buying in the tiles is a really good move and eliminates loads of problems. It's very interesting watching your progress. I haven't had a lot of success making tiles. They have warped for one thing but I haven't managed to get them to craze. Painting onto the soft unfired glazed surface is quite a challenge. I think I may give up now! Will try to get some pictures of mine. ( Sounds like a threat) Great work.
English Delft. Definitely!
Interesting blog. It would be great if you can provide more details about it. Thanks you
Digital Tiles Manufacturer
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