Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Around the kitchen table. . . . .


I've aways enjoyed sitting around casual kitchen tables of friends, sharing a mug of
coffee, a cup of tea, plus of course a natter and catch up of any news.

Here in Gina's comfortable kitchen in the farmhouse in Utah, it was even more special.
Besides chatting - we sent our men away to check out vintage tractors in the barn, 
plus a visit to Mr. G's friend who builds beautiful Windsor style chairs in their tiny
 farming community - we got out the paints, brushes and blank bisque tiles and
 I received an awesome art lesson in Italian Renaissance style ceramics painting.



Gina's painted kitchen cabinet and many of her colorful ceramic pieces.
Note the walls - Gina painted them and embedded straw for this special farmhouse look.


I was a little nervous. . . . actually a lot nervous!
Having worked in an administrative capacity in commercial art and advertising
 for several years, I've never considered myself an artist. I decided to paint
 something with figs and Gina, with much patience, showed me the steps.



My practice tile - manipulating and learning the brush strokes, shading, blending
 the colors.  When my fig tile was finished Gina kept it - the practice one also - to glaze
 and fire in her kiln. My finished tiles arrived a few days ago and I'm so thrilled with them.


I love how the colors have come alive and can see myself perhaps painting more
 if I can buy materials and find a kiln service in my area to fire the tiles.


This is a 6X6 inch tile - I'm using it as a coaster here in the gazebo. I love how it
 turned out and many thanks to Gina for taking time to give me such an enjoyable
 lesson. It certainly got my creative juices flowing after such a long hiatus.


Here's the link to Gina's Etsy shop where 
you will see more of her beautiful work. . . . 
. . . . . and that special kitchen table!

14 comments:

  1. You sure this was your first tile (after the practice one)? It looks as if you'd been doing this for a long time!

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    1. No, this is my first time painting a ceramic tile! I just was so fortunate to have such a fabulous teacher - GINA!!!!!

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  2. Mary...your tiles are exquisite! Gina is a wonderful artist, and I think you have a natural talent that may be something you didn't know.

    When we did the tiles for the backsplash in our kitchen, I found a company in Maine that did handprinted tiles. I simple gave them the size and make of the tiles and chose what I wanted to be painted from a beautiful collection. A total of 12 are scattered here and there in a pleasing pattern amongst the white tiles above my counters. Maybe someday I will post them.

    So happy you and Bob had such a great visit with your friends!

    Jane x

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    Replies
    1. Jane, we both miss you and A! Bob said we must come visit - then I can also see your backsplash, haha!
      Happy Autumn days ahead - just hope you continue to heal and are feeling good now X

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  3. Your painting is great. It must open a new world.

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  4. I loved this, Mary. Such a beautiful cupboard and how fun to paint with her.

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  5. You did a wonderful job! How fun the lesson must have been!

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  6. You must have had a ball visiting.

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  7. You did a beautiful job, Mary! I checked out Gina's etsy shop...her work is stunning. How special to be able to visit with her and bring out the paints and tiles and get a lesson in painting them.

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  8. Always wonderful getting our creative juices flowing! Great job. I think of you every time I use one of my tea stained tags ....

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  9. Ohhhh! How fun is that! I would love sitting and painting tiles. Your tile is just lovely. How perfect, figs!! I hope you can find a nearby kiln to work with and do more.

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  10. That kitchen cabinet, btw, is stunning too! Wow. I sooo love it.

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  11. Wonderfully done art work here too, Mary. You can see your creative skills in full force. How fun.

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  12. Dear Mary,
    I'm so pleased that several readers have noticed the red cabinet. It was an ugly brown and the price was right, $80. I painted it. I took the lower doors off to make it easier to paint. When I propped it up on an outside table to dry in the sun, my old rooster did a dance on it while it was still wet.

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