Expressive Painting in Liquid Enamels with Alisa Looney
Are you looking for a bit more freedom and expressiveness in your enameling experience? Do you love to sketch, paint, or play with mark making? If so, join enamelist Alisa Looney for this workshop!
In this class, students will learn to layer several liquid enamel mediums to create expressive paintings and timeless abstracts. Create panels of any size, flat or three dimensional, as well as small jewelry objects. Learn to apply liquid porcelain enamels (LCE or liquid form) in a multitude of ways to create expressive images and texturing. Application techniques can be layered to create representational imagery as well as abstract patterns and include both additive and subtractive techniques. Additive applications with brushes, squeegee, "decalcomania", sponges, dusting, stencils, splattering will be covered alternating with subtractive techniques as sgraffito using a variety of tools.
Create in bold black in white as well as full color, fire to your desired finish from sugar coat to full gloss. You'll learn to work with watercolor enamels to add layers of transparent colors and effects over the porcelain enamel, using thin and thick brush strokes as well as subtle washes. Sgraffito techniques will also be used. The addition of lusters will be talked about as well, as a way to add yet more depth and iridescence to your pieces.
Find your flow, and the freedom to work in virtually any style!
This course is available as a live online class. Please check this page for times and formats available.
A handout is included with the class.
Recordings of this class are available for 30 days from the final class session.
Tools Required for Online Students
This is a list of tools online students need to practice the techniques shown in class.
A list of tools with links to recommended suppliers for the best prices will be sent to you after registration. If you have questions about the tool list, please contact us.
- several 4"x4" squares of both pre-enameled steel black board and white board
- Thompson Enamel LCE-3 or 533 White
- Thompson Enamel LCE-1 or 772 Black
- LCE or LFE Red, Blue, and Yellow or color sample sets
- BWC Watercolor set
- Purple and Rose pink acrylic enamels
- Luster set
- Watercolor brushes
- Large soft brush
- Stiff brushes
- Sponge or sponge brush
- Klyr-fire
- Paint palette or glass/ceramic plates
- Straight pins
- Epoxy putty
- Plastic storage bins
- White plastic table cloths
- Metal shears
- Needle file set
- Hole punch
- Kiln and firing racks, firing fork, timer, safety glasses
- Trivets
- N-95 dust mask
- Penny Brite or other cleaner
- Isopropyl alcohol
- Tooth brush, scotchbrite, rags
- Sgraffito tools
- Ball point pen
- Cardboard and utility knife, Xacto knife and blade
- Tracing paper, pencil, sharpie, tape
- Jar for water, paper towels
- Rubber spatula
- Palette knife
- Card stock
- Plastic bags
- Containers and jars with lids
- Leather gloves
- Chain nose or flat nose pliers
- Bench pin
- Saw frame and blades
A computer, phone or tablet to use the free Zoom app for class
Read what students have to say about our online classes on the testimonials page.
Prerequisites:
Students should have prior enameling and kiln firing experience. A kiln is required for this class.
Instructor:
If a class is online, or is a combination online and in-person session, all students receive a link to a recording of the class demonstrations. In-person only workshops are not recorded. For staff instructor classes, students have access to the recordings for one year. For guest instructors, access is 30 days.
If a kit is included with the class, online students will have them mailed to them. Kits for in-person students are delivered at the beginning of the first class. More information about the kit is included with the supplies list which is emailed after registration.
International students may be charged an additional amount for shipping, because of the increased cost to ship abroad. Also, shipments to other countries may incur a tariff payable by the student. International students are welcome to contact us re: these costs and options for their materials. Please be sure that the address with your payment is the correct one for shipping.
If this class is offered online, it uses the Zoom app/website. Through Zoom, you’ll be able to see demos and follow instructions, ask questions and interact with your instructor. Zoom is easy to use and free for students to use for class, and works on most devices, like phones (iPhone, Android, etc), tablets (iPads, etc), and computers (Mac or PC).
Your instructor is also available during free Zoom office hours for questions and help.
For classes that include work time, online students work at home or in their studio. All of our recommended tools and the kit materials are chosen to be home studio friendly. Links to preferred vendors are provided in the supplies list sent after registration. Some classes, like our short demo only classes, don't require tools or materials to attend.
We remain committed to keeping everyone as safe as possible while continuing to move forward and adapt to the current circumstances for our in person classes and open studios.
We recommend that in person students be vaccinated, but it's not required.
Face masks are encouraged while at the school, but no longer required. Students must bring a particulate face mask (N95, KN95, KF94 or similar) to protect against dust and particles when needed and required during class work time.
If you have tested positive for COVID, have symptoms that could be COVID, or feel ill, please don't come to class. Contact us for more information.
And now the fine print. Payment in full for class fees is due at the time of registration to reserve your place. We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and PayPal. Checks and cash are accepted only if you register at school. If you mail a check, your registration is not processed until it clears and the class may fill during the wait.
If the workshop is canceled by our school for any reason, all class fees will be refunded, or you can transfer to another class, or you can keep a credit on account with us for future classes or purchases,
Students can cancel, receive a credit or refund, or transfer to another class up to 21 days before a workshop, whether it is online or in person. No cancellations are accepted after the 21-day deadline, however, we will do what we can to try and sell your place to a qualified student. If we can sell your place, you can receive a refund less a $50 cancellation fee, keep a credit on account with us, or apply your fees towards a transfer to another class.
If you can’t make it to class, you may send a participant who has the necessary prerequisites in your place. Please call or email us immediately with any changes in the student participant information. If a class includes an online section, your class will be recorded and you can watch later to make up a class you miss.
Students must be at least 15 years old to attend a class, and students under 18 must have a legal guardian sign our liability waiver form. We have had younger students attend classes, on a case by case basis. If you’re interested in enrolling your child, please call or email us.
If you sign up for a class and fail to have the required prerequisites as listed in the class description, you are still subject to the 21-day cancellation policy, listed above.
Lodging and meals are not included for in person classes.
If you don't come to class, there are no refunds, credits or transfers.