Published: September 12, 2008 12:44 pm      

Painting on porcelain

Local women keep the fine art alive

DANVILLE — Anyone can find beautiful hand-painted china on the Internet. But how many people have the patience and talent to create that artwork themselves?

A group of women in Danville is keeping the ancient art alive by meeting weekly to discuss the craft and work on projects.

“It really is a lot of fun,” said Sandy Burgoyne, president of the Danville Redbud China Art Guild.

“I can sit for hours and hours and hours doing this,” Colette Dale said, as she applied fine strokes to a statue.

To educate people about the fine art of painting on porcelain, the group has several pieces on display at the Danville Public Library through this month. Members also will demonstrate the art on Wednesday at the library.

The women would like to see more people at least try their hand at painting.

They cite many benefits, such as getting the chance to escape from the world for a short time, the opportunity to unleash their creativity, the time to socialize with others of similar interests and the satisfaction in creating something both beautiful and functional.

The Redbud guild was formed in 1967, and was one of the first to join the World Organization of China Painters. The world group, based in Oklahoma City, began in 1965 and now has guilds in 37 countries.

The Danville guild is a member of the Illinois World Organization of China Painters.

Over the years, the number of members in the Redbud guild has fluctuated. Now nine people — all women, although men are welcomed — meet on Monday mornings or Tuesday nights at Burgoyne’s studio on Avenue C in Vermilion Heights.

The meetings will change to a different location after the first of the year.

DEDICATION

Norma Gross and Loretta Gulick, both of Danville, are two of the original members who joined 40 years ago, and they’re still painting.

“I always loved pretty dishes,” Gross said. “My mother-in-law had so many hand-painted pieces and I fell in love with it.”

When she goes to antique stores, she said, “All I look at are the pretty dishes.”

She admits she doesn’t do enough painting, as she’s too busy with gardening, quilting and other hobbies.

Gulick said she paints her pieces as gifts for the family, not to sell. The others agreed that they do the same; Burgoyne, however, sells her art at shows.

Gulick prefers to paint the smaller pieces, explaining, “You can find a place (in the house) for a small piece.”

The artists order the pieces to paint from catalogues or they find items, such as plates and cups, at rummage sales.

All types of porcelain items can be painted, besides the standard dishes and cups — such as lamp shades, night lights, salt and pepper shakers, clocks, vases, Christmas ornaments (which the women are working on now) and many others.

The images can be painted free-hand or traced from an outline. Decals also are available.

Wanda Tuchel of Champaign, who started painting china about 30 years ago, traced an old photo of her father onto a tile and she will paint it in brown tones. An artwork featuring her aunt is on display at the library.

SLOW PROCESS

During the painting process, the artist will fire the piece in a kiln. That firing can take about an hour and a half, but then it has to cool for four to five hours.

“You can’t take something home on the first day,” Burgoyne said.

That might explain the lack of young people in the club: Most would be too impatient to wait on an object to be finished, she said.

What she likes about the process, Burgoyne said, is that an artist can make changes. “If you don’t like it, you can wipe it off (before it’s fired),” she said.

Also, she said, “With china painting, you get a more delicate touch and can blend (colors) together.”

Another thing about china painting is that the finished objects make nice gifts for weddings and baby showers, as well as Christmas. If someone collects steins, for example, an artist can make a different one each year for the collector.

Burgoyne followed her mother’s footsteps when she got involved in the art in 1972. She teaches both newcomers and longtime club members at the weekly meetings.

“You can paint forever,” she said. “You never outgrow it.”

MAKING FRIENDS

Tuchel said she enjoys coming to the meetings because it gives her a chance to socialize.

“It gives us time to pursue our own interests (outside of the family). This is strictly for us,” she said.

Colette Dale first met Burgoyne at a display at the library a couple of years ago. Dale had always painted watercolors, but was getting tired of the same scenery.

“I saw this and said I’d like to try it,” she recalled. She now has an entire room in her house dedicated to her work.

She likes china painting because it’s a form of escapism, saying, “It leaves everything else behind.”

The women aren’t sure what the future will bring, as the number of club members continues to decline, and young people don’t show an interest.

“The kids want instant results,” Dale said.

Nonetheless, Tuchel said, “We haven’t given it up.”

ON DISPLAY

Danville Redbud China Art Guild will have a display on the first floor of the Danville Public Library, 319 N. Vermilion St., during regular hours through this month. Members will demonstrate the art of painting on china from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday in the exhibit area.

The guild also will have a display and demonstrations from 1-4 p.m. Oct. 5 at the Vermilion County Museum for Illinois Arts Week.

TO JOIN

— For more information about joining the guild or taking classes, contact president Sandy Burgoyne at 442-4441 or 442-4442.

The guild’s meetings are at 11 a.m. the first Monday of every month at 508 Avenue C. People also gather at 11 a.m. Mondays or 5 p.m. Tuesdays every week (except in the winter) to work on projects or to take classes.

Classes are $5 a week and $2 a month for use of the kiln. To join the Illinois World Organization of China Painters (optional), the cost is $37 a year.

— The Web site for the World Organization of China Painters is at http://www.theshop.net/wocporg/