Introduction

This is a basic list of supplies for getting started with painting maiolica using commercially made glazes and underglazes.  Materials can be purchased on line or from a local ceramics supply shop. 

Common Brushes

For use with commercial underglaze, soft watercolor brushes or ceramic brushes are recommended. Liner brushes are best because they hold more pigment.  The following is a list of basic brushes that I recommend .

• Standard size 6 fan shaped soft bristled glaze brush
• For outlining: from Silver Falcon the Golden Taklon 10/0 number 585 or Onyx Taklon Long Script Liner (4585) 10/0.
• Small detail fill, shading and fine banding: Duncan BR-521 China Script
• Large fill, shading and banding: Duncan BR-571

Duncan brushes can be found online at: http://www.misterart.com/
Silver Falcon liner brushes can be found online at: http://www.silverfalcon.com
Dove fan shaped glaze brushes can be found online at: http://www.dovebrushes.com
Ceramic Supplies and banding wheels are available at http://nationalartcraft.com

Specialty Brushes

The commercial maiolica industry in Italy uses a special type of brush that is not commonly available in the United States.  The bristles on these brushes are trimmed at two different lengths.  It looks like a fine liner brush has been inserted into a fatter round brush.  These brushes are also sometimes called "reservoir" brushes.  The larger part of the brush holds a lot of pigment and feeds it to the tip of the brush like a pen nib.  In the United States, this special brush can be ordered from Dick Blick. The brushes available in the United States are made from a different type of hair than the brushes sold in Italy.

Pouncing Supplies

• General's Graphite - a powdered form of graphite available in a 6 oz. jar from art supply companies
• Foam craft pouncing sponge with handle
• 2 cotton balls for padding of pouncing sponge
• 6 x 6 square of fine weave cotton or linen
• Rubber band
• Quilt pin (large head)
• Empty loose powder container

Miscellaneous

• Curve bladed utility knife - for corrections
• Eye dropper or small water bottle - for diluting colors
• Glazed tile to use for palette
• Banding wheel - Hobby Colorobbia sells a banding wheel with an armrest. The Colorobbia banding wheel with an armrest is available online from the company National Artcraft.

Colors and Glazes by Hobby Colorobbia

 

Material Sources

Hobby Colorobbia can be purchase from selected hobby ceramic supply shops.  It can also be purchased online at:  http://www.ceramicscrafts.com/
**Please note that the Arctic White is misspelled on this website as "Aitic White"

Glazes

• HC 0147 Arctic White Glaze - base glaze
• HC 0001 Transparent Glaze - optional top coat

Colors

Bisque Stroke Underglaze - recommended starter set of colors ($2.25 - $4.50 for 1 oz depending on color. Most are under $2.25 or $2.50 for 1 oz. Expensive colors are primarily reds.)

• HC 0435 Celestial Blue
• HC 0428 Bright Yellow
• HC 0414 Orange -- can be used for shading of yellow
• HC 0448 Manganese - traditional outlining color
• HC 0452 Dark Brown - alternate outlining color. Slightly lighter than Manganese.
• HC 0451 Tangerine Red - orangey red
• HC 0436 Intensive Blue - sky blue
• HC 0425 Light Brown - can be used for shading of yellow and orange
• HC 0440 Copper Green - traditional green used in Italian maiolica. It is black before firing
• HC 0401 Bottle Green - alternate green, is a dark green
• HC 0432 Grass - alternate green, is a medium green
• HC 0459 Fire Red - bright, modern Christmas red

Colors - Florentine Design Glaze

The Florentine glazes can be used in place of the Bisque Stroke Underglazes. While Bisque Stroke Underglazes are opaque, the Florentine glazes are transparent.

• FDG 500 Detail Black - black has a tendency to smear or smudge. The Florentine formula black works a little better than the Bisque Stroke Underglaze formula.

Bisque

Low-fire (cone 04) white bisque works best to start with.  Some terra cotta clays are not compatible with the glazes.  Hand thrown pieces should be sponged after trimming to prevent pinholes in fired wares.