Precious porcelain — the lost art transitions into the unexpected

CNA photo by VALARIE ALLEN Setting up: A display of porcelain by artist and instructor Marci Battenberger is set up in the lobby at Maple Street Memories, 222 N. Maple. St., by from left, Judy Gile, Jill Jackson, Diane Smith, and Ann Moore before a china painting seminar given by Battenberger today through Wednesday.

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Detail and patience required — not anymore. World-renowned porcelain artist Marci Battenberger will be giving a seminar to local china painters on new techniques that move away from the traditional florals on tea cups. Marci Battenberger, china painter and instructor, will have some of her work on display and for sale today through Wednesday at Maple Street Memories, 222 N. Maple St., where Battenberger will show artists, new and different techniques to incorporate into their work during a seminar. The seminar is full, but the public is invited to stop by and watch the artists work and see Battenberger’s work. Battenberger mixes traditional and nontraditional style and technique in her work. Blattenberger said, she has been teaching china painting seminars since the about 1976. She travels across the United States, as well as England, Germany and Australia. “I was a preschool teacher, so most of my teaching and travels was based on how much leave I had built up,” said Battenberger. “The last three years, I have traveled more.” Specialty When asked what her specialty is, Battenberger paused for a moment and answered, “portraits, that’s where my heart is, they’re so exacting. But I like working with free forms and lusters are fun and easy.” Battenberger has gone a step further than most porcelain artists. She started about two years ago making her own porcelain. “It’s an exacting process,” said Battenberger. “I’ve gotten it down pretty good now.” Battenberger is also co-founder of a Web site for the purpose of teaching and promoting overglaze through Internet instruction. The site is Porcelain Painters International Online, http:www.porcelainpainter.com. Battenberger lives in Hendersonville, Tenn., with her husband Rex and their entourage of amazing four-legged friends. As a child, Battenberger said she was fascinated with color. She said she fell in love with a little piece of handpainted porcelain and began collecting both antique and contemporary pieces until one day Rex said, “Why don’t you learn how to do this yourself? It’d be a lot cheaper.” Battenberger said she has had the opportunity to study with some of the best in the china painting world. There are several techniques. Judy Gile, a member of Creston Area China Painters, which is part of Iowa World Organization of China Painters, has been painting porcelain portraits for 12 years. “It isn’t a craft,” said Gile. “It’s an art. You’re only limited by your imagination. Each piece is one of a kind.” Gile explains porcelain painting has been around for thousands of years. It was discovered by the Chinese. “Porcelain used to be as valuable as gold,” said Gile. “No one knew how to make the clay and add the minerals.” The traditional process takes time. Painting — firing — and repeating the process until the piece is completed. “There isn’t instant gratification with porcelain painting,” said Gile. “It takes time. People want to make something and have it completed right away.” Some of the new techniques Battenberger will bring to this seminar will solve the instant-gratification desire. “Some of the nontraditional techniques I will demonstrate will expand the possibilities using bolder styles,” said Battenberger. “People have a preconceived notion of what china painting is. As an art, porcelain painting is dying out. The average age of porcelain painters is 75. I want to teach bolder styles to change the focus from the traditional in the hopes of interesting some of the young artists.” ____________ Valarie Allen can be reached at 782-2141, ext. 233 or vallen@crestonnews.com