Potichomanie Activity - Special Exhibitions

Activities &
Projects
The Urge to
Embellish
Illinois State Museum
China Painting &
Potichomanie
China Painting in America, 1850-1950
The art of china or porcelain painting was popular in
America from 1860, and required that women
learn this art from books, magazines, or classes. It
involved buying the china, the under-glaze paints
and enamels, brushes, etc., and firing the china.
There were ads in the magazines for companies
that would fire china pieces for those who did not
own a kiln.
Special points of
interest:
ing and after the war, hard china was used
with powdered colors that the artist mixed
herself.
Middle class women were finding more free time
and yearned to do creative activities. China painting, with its specialized skills and more expensive
materials, was not for everyone.
• China Painting
• Resources
• Potichomanie
• Resources
• How to Do Reverse
Decoupage
• Materials & Tools
• Pros & Cons of Each
Art
Edith Dollarhide describes the process in an article entitled “Edith Dollarhide Creates Beauty with
China Painting” from the Illinois State Journal or
Register in the 1950s:
“Designs are made on china by first drawing the
lines on white paper and outlining them onto the
china from grey tracing paper with a stylus. At
first brush outlines were used, and then pens.”
Edith Dollarhide at work—from
SJ-R article in the 1950s
“There are disadvantages to this art, particularly
when weather is very damp and hot, because the
turpentine and colors separate. They must be perfectly smooth and blended before it can be
painted on the china.”
“Miss Dollarhide reminisced about the old gas
kilns, and how one had to look through a tiny
‘peephole’ to check when the fire was hot enough
to bake colors into the china. Now the process is
made easier by thermostat controls on electric
kilns…”
Before WWII, soft china called Satsuma was imported from Japan, as well as enamel colors. Dur-
Dollarhide painted china in the ISM
China Painting & Potichomanie
The Urge to Embellish
Page 2
China Painting Resources
Learn more about china painting:
http://www.artistictile.net/pages/Info/
Info_Porcelain.html A history of pottery article.
http://www.mygrannysatticantiques.com/html/
history_of_unmarked_handpainte.htm history of
women’s china painting in the U.S. 1860-, as a
hobby. Teachers, influences, styles.
http://www.antiquesjournal.com/Pages04/
Pages04/Monthly_pages/march07/paintresses.
html see section on American Women
Potichomanie or Reverse Decoupage
Potichomanie (Reverse Découpage)
The second art, or craft, Potichomanie,
involved a skill that most people could
master – that of cutting out printed paper motifs, gluing them to glass, and
painting behind them to create a piece
that looked like painted china.
The materials required are clear glass
dishes or vases, colored drawings or
prints, glue, brushes, varnish, paints,
optional gold powder. This art appeared at the same time as the popularity of china painting.
Vases were the most popular to découpage. Images were glued to the
inside of a clear-glass vase and varnished.
Plates were done the same way, but
backed with wool felt or black paint
Potichomanie Resources
L7XsifbTvi&sig=u3Bt7_HzGHHXBqtS1EHV
E06dUk&hl=en&ei=7eTUSqDDE47CNvCSl
ZQD&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resn
um=3&ved=0CAwQ6AEwAjgU#v=onepage
&q=potichomanie&f=false
how to do Potichomanie (#559) from old book
http://books.google.com/books?
id=9q6yUf_tNGcC&pg=PA159&lpg=PA159
&dq=potichomanie&source=bl&ots=.
New Decoupage: Transforming Your Home with Paper,
Glue, and Scissors by Durwin Rice. Projects and
how to without the tedious old methods of the
19th century and the 1970s. Look for used hardbacks and paperbacks online at about $4.00.
Modern adaptations of the craft is seen at
http://www.creativebreak.ca/pastprojects/13.
htm , http://www.allfreecrafts.com/decoupage/
reverse-vase.shtml , http://www.allfreecrafts.
com/decoupage/angel-plate.shtml
This drawing of a potichomanie vase appeared
in the August 1854 issue
of Godey’s Lady’s Book
as an example graphic.
The vase features a panel
with figures on the side,
and flowers sprinkled
around the body. It is
imitative of Chinese porcelain.
China Painting & Potichomanie
The Urge to Embellish
Page 3
Porcelain Decoration Styles
Before we create a potichomanie on glass, let’s
find out what types of designs are a tradition in chinaware, of which potichomanie is an
imitation. There are several types of design,
as seen in the examples of Mrs. Dollarhide’s
pieces.
Notice that most of the designs involve a
border of some kind. The central platter has
a strong border with black and white geometrics and flowers and a plain center. The
vases have gold borders on their necks. The
bowl has a gold edge border inside.
Another style of design is a central medallion. The box lid has a floral composition in
its center.
The pitcher and the two vases have panel
designs on their sides, usually repeated sev-
eral times. Look at china designs online to
see examples of these types.
Let’s look at how the potichomanie plate in
our exhibit is designed. It began as a flat
clear glass plate. The design has in the center a large picture of a woman. Encircling
her are repeated smaller circles of portraits,
and bands of print.
These happen to be cigar bands, but they
could be images of flowers, vines, leaves, or
abstract patterns. The artist has balanced the
composition so that no one side is heavier
looking than another. The motifs are spread
out over the plate. The round motifs of
people almost form a border.
Cigar Band Bowl made by gluing
paper cigar bands onto the reverse side
of the glass (underside of bowl) then
covering the back with wool felt.
Collection of Plates & Motifs
Choose a clear plastic or glass dish, bowl, or
plate with which to make your Potichomanie.
Although traditionally, most people
decoupaged vases, for beginners it is easier
to work on a flat plate or a shallow round
bowl
Craft stores sell such plates for less than
three dollars. But bargains can be found at
dollar stores and thrift stores for less than
one dollar. Look for unscratched, plain clear
glass plates, such as cake plates. Avoid those
having etched or relief patterns.
Cutting Out of Motifs:
Patience but not perfection is required here.
Use small, sharp scissors to cut out your
chosen motifs. You will need a lot of them
to fill the space of your glass dish. As you
cut, you can begin to arrange them in
patterns on the table. Separate your sticker
pages into individual stickers, but leave
them on their base paper. (Share motifs
with others if working in a group.)
.
Find Motifs:
“Look for and collect
wrapping paper, pages
from design books,
magazines, cards, etc.
for your motifs. You
can choose animals,
plants, people, sports
motifs, or other
themes”
Materials & Tools
•
•
•
•
Small sharp scissors for intricate cutting
Small brushes (pointed and ¼ - ½” flat
brushes for acrylic paint and Mod
Podge
Mod Podge® or other decoupage
adhesive (works much better than
thinned white glue)
Paper towels, wet and dry, for cleaning
residue from plate and work surface
•
•
•
•
Separate little dishes of water for
soaking motifs and for rinsing brushes
Liquid soap and water for cleaning
brushes
FolkArt® Enamels or other brand of
acrylic paint for glass and ceramic.
Water-based polyurethane (or spraylacquer used safely) as a sealer.
Image of materials and tools used in
making a potichomanie with plastic
plate, scrapbooking card stock design,
and stickers.
China Painting & Potichomanie
The Urge to Embellish
Page 4
Six Step Procedure
Trace around the plate on a piece
BACK or reverse side of the dish. Cover
of paper using a pencil. Arrange
the motif’s surface evenly but lightly with
the motifs on this pattern (You
glue.
do not want to just glue them
4. Apply the motifs to the reverse side of
down any old way without a
the glass. Use a small damp sponge or
plan). Mark the paper or rememdamp paper towel piece to pat off any
ber which motifs go where.
excess glue around the edges of the motif
2. If you soak the motifs that are
so the background area will not be
heavier, such as on card stock, in
smudgy. Then pat with a dry paper towel
a small bowl of water for ten secpiece.
onds, they will soften and lie flat- 5. Make sure that the motif is tightly adter on the glass when glued. Hanhered to glass, especially the edges, so
dle them carefully as you lift them
that the enamel paint will not seep under
from the water and pat the excess
the motif. (I found that even after checkwater off with a small paper
ing several times, one or two undetected
towel.
edges or points of paper needed re3. You will be brushing Mod
gluing.)
Podge® onto the printed side of 6. Let your plate dry thoroughly, probably
the motif and pressing it to the
overnight.
1.
Sealing the motifs and
their edges:
Just to make sure there
are no loose edges or
points on your motifs,
lightly brush the backs
of them with Mod
Podge using a small flat
brush. With the edge of
the brush, also seal the
edges by applying Mod
Podge 1/32 – 1/16” over
the edge of the motif
onto the glass. This
extra insurance that
background paint would
not seep under the
motifs’ edges.
Finishing the Reverse Side
Enameling the Back:
1. Paint the reverse side of the plate
(over the glued motifs) with your
chosen background color in acrylic
enamel paint. This enamel will
make the glass look like china.
towel while still partially wet, or
scratch it off if dry. Watch this
constantly as you work.
2. Finish by sealing the reverse surface
of the plate with water base
polyurethane or lacquer (if you have a
safely ventilated area). Avoid spraying
or painting on the front of the plate,
It may take many coats to make the
especially if you plan to use it at all.
background appear opaque and
Use a damp rag or paper towel along
solid. Light coats are smoother
the rim to remove water-based
than thick ones and dry more
product.
evenly and quickly. Dry between
each coat. This paint needs to be
set by either waiting 21 days before Alternative Finish for Reverse Side:
it is sealed and used, or heat-setting Alternative Finish for Reverse Side:
Use felt fabric cut to shape on plates.
it in a dedicated (used for craftGlue it onto the back. Wool felt will mold
only, not food) oven for an hour
(see package directions). Caution: if itself when damp to the curved surface.
Synthetic felt is not so pliable. Trim the
the paint gets on the rim or front
of the plate, either wipe with damp edges smooth.
Reverse of plate with
three coats of enamel
Urge to Embellish Project: China Painting and
Potichomanie (Reverse Decoupage)
Illinois State Museum
Thinking about the arts: List the advantages and disadvantages of participating
in each of these two arts — quality, time
spent, costs, etc.
Dinosaurs and Roses potichomanie made
on a disposable plastic plate—Visually it resembles china, but the weight and feel are
flimsier.
Potichomanie
Advantages:
China Painting
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Disadvantages:
For your circumstances, which craft would be better for
you to do, potichomanie or china painting?
What are the reasons?
Will or would you be as satisfied with one as with the
other? Why or why not?
Which craft would be more fun for you? Why?
What can you learn by making a piece of potichomanie?
Examples We Made
Dinomanie at the Gluing Stage. Try arranging motifs on paper first, especially if they
are to be equally spaced on the plate.
Finished Dinomanie plate. The white
enamel paint reflects light like chinaware.
Fish plate made on an blue-streaked
art glass plate found at a thrift shop. It
made the perfect water for the fish!
If you make an exciting Potichomanie vessel, you might post it on You-Tube and send us the link.
We are interested to know what people can create! Email us at [email protected]
Illinois State Museum
502 S. Spring
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: 217-785-0035
url: http://www.museum.state.il.us/
embellish
Visual Arts Learning Standards
STATE GOAL 25: Know the language of the arts.
B. Understand the similarities, distinctions and connections in and among the arts.
Early High School: 25.B.4: Analyze and evaluate similar and distinctive characteristics of works in two or more of
the arts that share the same historical period or societal context.
STATE GOAL 26: Through creating and performing, understand how works of art are produced.
B. Apply skills and knowledge necessary to create and perform in one or more of the arts.
Early High School: 26.B.4d: Demonstrate knowledge and skills that communicate clear and focused ideas based
on planning, research and problem solving.
STATE GOAL 27: Understand the role of the arts in civilizations, past and present.
B. Understand how the arts shape and reflect history, society and everyday life.
Early High School: 27.B.4b: Understand how the arts change in response to changes in society.
National Arts Standards: Grades 9-12
Content Standard 4: Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and cultures
Achievement Standard:
Proficient:
•
Students differentiate among a variety of historical and cultural contexts in terms of characteristics and purposes of works of art
•
Students describe the function and explore the meaning of specific art objects within varied cultures, times,
and places
•
Students analyze relationships of works of art to one another in terms of history, aesthetics, and culture, justifying conclusions made in the analysis and using such conclusions to inform their own art making
Advanced:
•
Students analyze and interpret artworks for relationships among form, context, purposes, and critical models, showing understanding of the work of critics, historians, aestheticians, and artists
Students analyze common characteristics of visual arts evident across time and among cultural/ethnic groups to formulate analyses, evaluations, and interpretations of meaning