The Citizen, 1994-09-09, Page 19Illi (111/1.N WI DNFSDAY.SF.PIFMBFR 7. 1994 PAdFA-19
Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion 1994
13 tH Century art form can be discovered at ‘Reunion
Reviving age-old art
spent eight weeks turning the Swartz's
garage into her studio. "It was good to have
a handy husband," jokes Marilyn. "Since I'm
a night person and sometimes up till 4 in the
morning, it's nice to have a separate work
area."
Today she teaches over 55 students,
including 15 kids. She comments that the
kids sometimes make the best students,
"Kids are not intimidated and don't hesitate
to just go ahead and do something. A few
years ago we accidentally entered a child
student in the adult class at a fair contest and
the kid won first prize!"
Marilyn attends several china painting
courses in Lucknow, Sombra and at Oakland
University in Michigan once a year and
subscribes to magazines like British
Porcelain Magazine in order to keep up on
the latest trends. "You have to keep on
learning things yourself in order to stay
ahead of your students," Marilyn stresses.
On September 9 to 11, she will be at the
Threshers Reunion in Blylh to exhibit her
collection and will actually be making small
personalized items with the kiln al the show.
Il's an opportunity for visitors of the
Reunion to travel back in lime via quality-
made hand-painted antiques, to a period
when being a master in a fine art was an
important title.
For a few days at this year's Threshers
Reunion, Marilyn Swartz will once again be
demonstrating her porcelain painting talents.
Marilyn Swartz of Clinton displays her personally hand-painted wares at the
Thresher Reunion. Hand-painting china is an art which dates back to the
13th Century.
By Shane Taylor
Porcelain was first made in China several
hundred years ago. Marco Polo, during his
stay in China in the 13th Century, was said
to have greatly admired the beauty of their
hand-painted porcelain.
However after centuries of high quality
hand-painted china, what is known as
transfer or decal application was introduced
and painting porcelain by hand was
considered too expensive and almost became
a lost art.
Fortunately, hand-painting of china is on
the rebound and Marilyn Swartz, of Clinton,
will display her personally hand painted-
wares at this year's Thresher's Reunion.
Armed with a state-of-the-art com
puterized fire craft kiln, a membership
certificate from the International Porcelain
Artist's & Teacher's Association and the
patience to attend to details, Marilyn is ready
to revive the custom of hand-painting china.
She paints anything and everything that's
made of china including plates, jewellery,
personalized children's booties, bells, dolls,
door plaques and custom made cat and dog
tags. However, the main items of interest at
the Threshers Reunion are Marilyn's replicas
of antiques, like cocoa pots.
"The people who come to Blylh really
treasure nostalgia and tend to value older
things. They'll see something antique that
I've done and they will remember that their
mother or grandmother had one of those."
She's been to several craft shows
throughout Ontario but really enjoys the
Threshers Reunion. "This is my fourth year
at Blylh and it has my favourite crowd. The
local people are so nice and 1 always seem to
get a great response."
The great response is partly due to the way
Marilyn paints the china. The process begins
with the application of on-glaze enamels to
glazed china or porcelain. The depth of
colour is achieved by applying thin layers of
colour and firing the piece in a kiln, at 1,400
Fahrenheit, between each application. The
procedure is very time consuming as it takes
between three to eight hours to cool down
after firing and each piece has to go through
three to seven firings.
Marilyn says that while people will pay
between $500 and $1,500 for a canvas
painting, which takes as many hours labour
as a porcelain painting does, they are not
willing to spend that for a china painting.
"It's a fine art just like canvas painting, it is
not a craft." Marilyn points out.
Most of her work is freehand except for
pictures that need to be precise, like tracing a
certain picture of someone's house or pel. "I
really prefer freehand so I'm not bound by
any limits."
She spends most of her time working with
porcelain or white china as it is also called.
"It's porcelain when you want it to,sound
extravagant and then it becomes known as
china after it breaks." jokes Marilyn.
However Marilyn has also dabbled in both
ceramics and bisque. "Bisque is china
without the glaze and it can create a muted,
soft and gentler look."
Marilyn has had a long career in the arts as
she's been drawing and oil painting since she
was nine years old. She attended Fanshawe
College of Art for awhile and began co
teaching porcelain painting in Bayfield with
her mother about four years ago. When her
mother got sick, Marilyn took over the
classes. Her husband and brother-in-law
In tfte driver s seat
Little visitors to the Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion love taking a close
look at the antique tractors on display. Area students have their own special
time on the Friday to come enjoy the sights and sounds of yesteryear.
WE EXTEND OUR
(Best Wishes
to everyone attending the 33rd Reunion
of the
Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association
OUR ELEVATORS ARE
READY TO RECEIVE YOUR
1994
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Welcome to the 33rd Annual
Reunion of the Pioneer Threshers J4 warm welcome to friends & visitors attending
the 33rd Annual Hdtreslter's Reunion
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