Chantilly Cup & Saucer - Gift

Last night I finally finished painting a gift to my pastor and his wife. This set of cups and saucers were painted with Chantilly pattern in Victoria Blue color. Then I wrapped them with green blue colored wrapping papers. Instead of using traditional color - Christmas red, gold or even green, I think using blue colors for this season is kind of "cool" and special.
At the back of each saucer, I wrote different messages on them as below.

"Bethany,

May there be joy in your home and love in your heart as

you enjoy all the pleasures that Christmas imparts.

Love in Christ,

X'Mas 2009"

"Rev. Kinson,

Grace and peace to you from God our Father

and Lord Jesus Christ,

Love in Christ,

X'Mas 2009"

My New Thumbnail Logo

Here is my new thumbnail logo for my Facebook and MSN. I like the color combination - leaf green, grey and dark brown.

Art Market @918 Bathurst Street

Please visit me at Booth 36 at the Art Market, which locates in Toronto, Ontario. See you there.

Art Market at 918 Bathurst Street

I am so glad and excited that I can sell my artworks in public. This is my first time. This art market will be held on Dec 5th and 6th 2009 from noon to five o'colockat at 918 Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario. This time I am going to sell my latest artworks, applied with the Chinese Brush Painting technique.
My booth or table is Number 36 in Sun Room of the building. Unfortunately, this table is the last one is set up at the end of Sun Room. Hopefully, the guests and customers can see my stuff there.

For more updates, they will be published soon

Atelier de Bercy

Tonight I read an article in the November 2009 edition of the Canadian House & Home magazine. There is a serious porcelain artist lived in Candiac of Quebec now. Her name is Sol Labos Brien. I was so fascinated of her artworks, like plates and trinket boxes. Among her paintings, I like the plate with handsome horses in blankets and saddlery. This artwork reminds me a bit about Gustav Klimt's oil paintings. As always, I like his famous painting, the Kiss.
After reading her biography, she was inspired by Sèvres porcelain at the Louvres. I can see she is a real serious porcelain artist and I admire her hard working to perfection.

Check out at her website, http://www.atelierdebercy.com/

Orchid Banner

Orchid Banner
Originally uploaded by Charlotte L Design

This is my new banner.

Congratulations to Roslyn Levin

My Sumi-e teacher, Roslyn Levin won a prize again and her solo exhibition will be held next month.

My Website is Activated Now!

Please visit my new website at www.charlotteldesign.weebly.com

My New Shop at Bonanzle

Please visit my new shop. I will sell some of my aged artwork at http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/CharlotteLdesign, instead of selling at Esty.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello everyone! Happy Thanksgiving!

Porcelain Paper Weigh - A Bouquet of Flowers

The Porcelain Paper Weigh shows a boutquet of flowers, such as parrot tulips and mini wild flowers. The painting is Dresden flower. It can be used to decorate your desk or to place on the papers/napkins. At the back of the weigh, I wrote a little French poem to encourage yourself in life, "l'homme n'est point fait pour médiater, mais pour agir." It means the man is not made to mediate, but to act.

Please visit at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32034476

Porcelain Painting Jug - Chantilly

This weekend I just finished painting this nice scrolled jug. The jug's representation is a bit of antique-like and thus I decided to paint the classical pattern, Chantilly.

Chantilly pattern always comes in blue color. Of course, I can use other colors instead but this time I prefer using blue. The jug's porcelain part is not purely white, it contains a bit transparent yellowish hint. It's a bit unusual. Chantilly pattern on yellowish porcelain container with scrolled rim, handle and bottom, it enhance the jug's antique quality.

The curves of jug is very smooth and it looks very adorable. When it sits in French country style kitchen, it's definitely value added.

As usual, I signed this jug's bottom in French as "Peint main Charlotte L". [translation: Painted by Charlotte L.]

Congratulations, Roslyn!

Title : Life is Beautiful
Name : Roslyn Levin
Medium: Ki/Sumi-e painting
Approx Size: 23cm x 30.5cm

My Sumi-e brush painting teacher, Roslyn Levin's work has recently been accepted into the internationally juried David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation Wildlife Artist of the Year 2009 exhibit in London England. She has also been asked to show a work in Tokyo in fall 2009 with Group Yohaku.

http://www.wildlifeartistoftheyear.org/2009/exhibit_0489_levin.shtml

Roslyn demonstrates the style of Sumi-e called Ki Painting. Ki is the Japanese word for Universal Energy, also known as qi or chi. The body, breath & brush are one with each brushstroke as she moves & breathes with the brush, reaching within to share her spirit with the image on the picture.

More paintings of hers, please visit at her website, http://www.artbyroslyn.on.ca/

My New Renovated Kitchen

It has been a month and I now announce that my kitchen is finally renovated! Inspired by one of my favourite interior designer, Sara Richardson, I make my kitchen in French country style and exhibit my painted tiles on the backsplash. The white cabinets are installed with polished chrome knobs while the wall is painted in pale green colour. On the backsplash, I put on eight painted tiles, which depict a series of Franz porcelain pieces.

Franz porcelain is my favourite porcelain company. This Taiwanese company’s artworks are inspired by Chinese culture and Nature. Also, they hire various famous artists, such as Jean Boggio and Kathy Ireland to create their beautiful teapots, cups, spoons and even jewellry.

In Europe, most of people like to place Delft tiles on their kitchen’s backsplash. However, I don’t like their patterns and colours. They look a bit ancient. So, I decide to paint Franz porcelain, which looks much up-to-date. Also, I put varied colours to make my backsplash stand out.

Opposite to my stove, I hang up two posters, showing antique cups and saucers and vases. These posters were bought by my friend, Alice at Wedgwood in England.

Asian Teapot & Cups

Asian Teapot & Cups Were Sold!
I’ve always looked for a modern representation of
porcelain/ china wares. For this Asian teapot and cups, I dip peacock feather to mixed china paints and painted on this teapots and cups. The peacock feather itself is so flexible for movement. When the feather touches the surface of porcelain, the paints is vividly on it.

Instead of using traditional medium oil for the paints, the mixed china paints, this time, are mixed with milk. No matter 2%, homo or else. Just simply mixed both together with a palette knife and it becomes liquid form. It’s less messy than using medium oil; however, it dries out very fast.

A lot of people simply move the feather and wrist. I will suggest moving the whole body at the same time while painting. The movement of the pattern will look nicer.

This peacock-feather technique looks similar to Chinese Brush strokes. When I received this teapot with bamboo handles, I go ahead using this painting technique. Also, I use the same technique to the cups as well. These cups are commonly found in Chinese Restaurant when you have dim sum there.

As for the color selection, orange and green are always complimentary with each other.

By the way, you may question if the feathers come from a real peacock. Well, the ones I am using are synthetic.

Delft Style Soap Dish

Delft Soap Dish Was Sold!

You may find this soap dish from my Esty shop. It has been recently sold. This soap dish was painted with Delft’s flower pattern. When I was painting it, I was inspired by Delftware or Delft pottery so much. Delftware denotes blue and white pottery made in the Netherlands from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries.

Inspired by this type of ancient pottery, I painted this ornamented soap dish in American Beauty color to give a modern style of this Delftware.

I found a lot of the old granny things, like collectible spoons, porcelain ware, and bone china tea pots. They may only attract to the elderly or those who are big fans

of Antique Roadshow. If you take a close look, you may find some intriguing background or history. They are waiting for you to explore.

Painting on a Porcelain Switch Plate

The white porcelain switch plate is embossed with little scrolls and uneven round shapes. They makes the switch plate more feminine. To avoid making it too girly, I painted a stem of pansies, instead of mini roses.
This switch is good for displaying in any bedrooms. It is easy to clean.

This plate was painted by me in the spring of 2009. With the use of regular painting oil and mixing oil, I painted all the colors at the same time, including leaves and petals and I fired it one time only by kiln at cone 017.

On the bottom of right corner, there is my signature of "Charlotte L" shown. As always, I find my name is too long and I prefer to change it shorter.