Miniature painting on enamel

We create iconographic works in the genre of miniature painting on enamel with overglaze refractory paints. Painting is performed both in the canonical style and in the academic one.

Enamel miniatureis a type of applied art, which is the production of artistic paintings / decorative works using vitreous powder - enamel, on a metal substrate. Picturesque enamels in their appearance approach ordinary painting. Their main difference is their miniaturization and durability: the painting does not fade, is not influenced by light, air and time, while maintaining its original freshness and transparency.

To understand the process of creating miniature enamel paintings, we will briefly describe all the important steps, starting with the manufacture of the plate.

A sheet of copper of the required size is taken as a basis - it is heated to a dark red color and placed on a completely flat steel plate. The plate is forged with a hammer with a rounded head. This operation is repeated several times, and before each forging, the plate is heated. The plate should be slightly convex. After forging, the plate is cleaned and washed, preparing for the enameling process.

The copper plate is covered with white enamel. The enamel is placed on both sides, which prevents the plate from bending. They start with counter-enamel, it is very important to apply it evenly, like any other enamel. The plate is fired from which it should be completely glazed. If there are irregularities on the surface, then, where required, add enamel and burn again. This is an important stage - further work depends on the quality of the plate.

The work of an icon painter begins with the preparation of paint. The artist grinds special overglaze refractory paint in powder form with a palette knife on a palette with special oil to get its desired condition. Each artist copies the outline of the drawing in a convenient way. And armed with brushes, he begins a very painstaking and difficult work. With neat smooth movements, the image begins to be written out, stroke by stroke.

At each stage, the artist fixes the paint layer by temperature firing. In total, during the time of painting, the plate undergoes 5-7 firing at temperatures of 750 degrees. This is a very important moment, which occurs with a sinking heart and inner prayer, because each time annealing can give an unpredictable result. The last annealing is especially alarming when almost all the work has already been done.

Miniature enamel painting is difficult to perform, requires special perseverance, patience, accuracy, talent and artistic taste. Enamel miniature is valuable for its strength and richness of tone, strength and durability - art born of fire, as they say about enamel, is not afraid of time.