Ceramic Arts Daily

Inspiring, Insightful and Inventive
This conference will bring together a diverse group of presenters and artists to discuss and work on issues surrounding handmade tiles and mosaics for the 21st century. As the tile community becomes more of a national community, we have a need to continue to engage each other and help develop new talented artists to the field. The tile conference will focus on the main challenges many tile artists face in developing their tile art, as well as developing new skills.

Learn more about…
KARIN KRAEMER

Making Maiolica Tiles
Karin will demonstrate a variety of ways to make, cut and keep tile flat. She will focus on important facets of tile making that include making, drying and firing tile. Attendees will learn basic tile construction in handbuilt and mechanical methods. Examples of historic and contemporary maiolica tiles will be shown. Karin will share recipes and technical details for using maiolica, designing and making custom tile. If you love to paint, this will be a great new way to explore surface design. Attendees will learn the following:

• Basic tile construction - discover a variety of ways to make, cut and keep tile flat.

• Learn to paint the in-glaze maiolica stains on pre-base-glazed tiles.

• Discussion on design, brushwork, color theory and more will be explored.

• Receive recipes and technical details for using maiolica.

Additional Information:
Karin has 20 years of clay experience and a wide range of technical tips for both making tile and using maiolica glaze. Karin lives and works in Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin. Her shop is part of the Old Trade and Commerce Marketplace in Superior, an historic building filled with artisan entities. Karin is the chair of the North End Arts Council in Superior. She makes functional pots, wall pieces, and custom tile that are available in her shop, in galleries, and at art fairs around the United States. Karin has a BFA in Glass and MFA in Ceramics from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, where she first learned to use Maiolica glaze. She teaches occasionally at Lake Superior College, the Duluth Art Institute and her studio. Making custom tile is an exciting part of her work now.

Hands-on Opportunities: Attendees will begin by looking at some examples of Maiolica tiles. Then we’ll have a demo of how to make easy slabs, how to keep them flat through the whole process, and discuss shrinkage and design. Karin will do a demo of stains, techniques such as brushwork, stenciling, wax resist, etc on the surface of pre-made tiles. Then the participants will paint their own tiles. Attendees are welcome to take home the tiles to fire.