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Tortoise Shell Easy Faux Technique Instructions
Hand Painted on Porcelain.


THE PLAN
This technique adds a rich texture to a piece of hand painted porcelain. This was an experimental technique used in combination with liquid bright gold and pen and ink.

PREPARATION
Clean the surface of your china. Remove any labels from your china that might burn off in the kiln.

The butterfly was adapted from my photograph of a Swallowtail. After sizing the butterfly to fit within the circle, it was printed onto a piece of tracing parchment. You can also trace a butterfly onto parchment paper with a pencil or pen. It might be fun to use moths or a dragonfly with the tortoise shell finish. Save the drawing for use later in the instructions.

HAVE FUN PAINTING

  • Tortoise Shell Technique
    First Fire
    Paint the surface of your porcelain with yellow brown. Paint evenly, however it isn't necessary to paint a perfect smooth surface.
    Fire at Cone 014.

    Second Fire
    Before painting observe step two. First paint 1/2"-3/4" stripes using Pecan in the area intended for the tortoise shell. Next use red brown and paint a stripe right next to the pecan stripes. Next using dark brown and black place a dot at the top of each stripe.

    Now use a large flat shader brush and with extremely light pressure blend the paint together. Refer to example photograph (3).
    Fire at Cone 014.

  • Pen and Ink Butterfly
    First Fire
    Refer to photo example 4. Place a piece of graphite paper onto your porcelain. Lay your butterfly drawing on top of the graphite paper and then use a stylus to trace around the butterfly.

    Now it is time to pen and ink the butterfly. Use your favorite pen oil with black china paint and a fine tipped calligraphy pen and draw the butterfly onto the porcelain surface.

    If you don't have a pen oil recipe try mixing black china paint with 7up to a consistency that is easy to pen onto your design. Let the pen work dry and then fire at Cone 014.

    Second Fire
    Paint the butterfly with mixing yellow.
    Fire at cone 014.

  • Liquid Bright Gold

    When using liquid bright gold (LBG) use separate tools. For instance don't use the same pen for your china paint that you use for (LBG) Pen on your gold.
    Fire at Cone 017.

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