Ceramic Dictionary

by Susan Mussi

MAJOLICA: Colors (d) Outlines

ca: MAJÒLICA: Colors (d) Contorns

es: MAYÓLICA: Colores (d) Contornos

Introduction to using colors: Painting the outlines is drawing with your paintbrush. Use your cut down brushes to paint the outlines and any details you think are necessary. Any strong color can be used for outlines but the following five colors are the main ones. Remember, when I talk about colors, they will have been prepared as explained previously, and also that continuously stirring them helps to make the colors run well. This is very important for painting long, smooth strokes.

FIVE MAIN COLORS FOR OUTLINES
Manganese: is a dark brown that has been used throughout the centuries for painting outlines. When fired, it burns away so when using it for outlines, it must be well-mixed and strong.
Brown: Instead of using manganese we now use 50% brown-red + 50% strong brown
Black: Is a new, hard, industrial color and should be used for designs that need to have an impact, like names, advertisements, instructions, etc.
Blue: one of the oldest colors and it has been used through the centuries for designs of one color, but in different shades. For the outlines and extreme dark shading, you need a strong, color, so a little black is added.
Brown-red: a good color for outlines. To make it darker, it can be mixed with dark brown or black. Though not an antique color, it is good for fine lines.

THE PICTURES SHOW THE OUTLINES PAINTED.
The following are three ways that you can paint outlines.

Outlines before colors: first paint the outlines, which have been marked on with charcoal powder, with long smooth strokes, using the movement of brush strokes to accentuate the drawing and adding small details to personalize and accentuate it.

Painting colors before outlines this is usually used when creating a colored texture. Imagine, for example, that you are painting a castle, which has large spaces of brick wall. Mark on a design and paint only the outlines, no details like windows or doors, then dust off all the charcoal powder and paint in the light colors, light brown, light red-brown and green, overlapping them to form shades and colors, to give an idea of the changing colors that bricks have. Then mark on the missing parts of the design over the colors and paint in all the details; bricks, windows, doors, etc. When the outlines are finished, add more colors if necessary.

Note: When I use the word light in relation to a color, I mean exactly the same color but with more water or a lighter stroke