For outlining china, this method—which saves one or two firings—can be
used and will be found most practical.
Mix whatever dry color you wish, with water and add a couple of drops
of mucilage or sugar syrup. Mix well with palette knife. Use this
mixture as you would water colors—and outline the design with a lining
brush. The lines will dry very quickly and in case you want to erase
them, use water. Then, too, if the color dries on the palette, water
should be used—and mix well. These outlines will remain perfectly, and
you can paint and repaint over them—there being no danger of rubbing
off and will show through oil mixed colors.
If the background is applied with regular mixed colors—and the design
cut out and tinted, you can have a piece of decorated china complete
with one firing. The outlines will fire clearly, but if outlined in
India ink they would have disappeared.
When this method of outlining is used, a brush should be used instead
of a pen. When using a pen in outlining, mix the colors with mixing
oil—to about the consistency of that would be used in painting. Dilute
this sufficiently with diluting medium, so that it will flow readily
from the pen. Experience will soon teach you the right consistency. It
is just as undesirable to have it too thin as too thick.
For small lines use a fine pen and a coarse one for heavier work. A
small brush can be used successfully.
India ink is used for outlining china for decorating. This disappears
in firing. It does not injure the gold or colors—but the ink lines can
be seen when lustres are applied over them. When the ink is perfectly
dry, the china colors can be applied.
To make a broad outline, paint the line with grounding oil that has
been mixed very well with a small amount of lampblack. Draw the lines,
then dust the powdered color over them. You can be sure of obtaining a
perfectly even color effect, if the banding is done in this way. When
outlining with gold, use a mixture of pure Roman gold and diluting
medium. When mixed with a diluter, Roman gold may be applied with
either a pen or a brush. Do not use turpentine or liquid bright gold.
Burnish silver can be handled in the same way.
When using liquid bright gold or lustre, you can use a brush or pen,
whichever you choose.
Outlining in color can be done over fired colors, golds, silvers and
lustres, but be careful not to apply it too heavily or it will flake
off.
You can outline in color over unfired dry tints and unfired, well dried
Roman gold. The powder must be mixed with water when used over unfired
lustres. The lustres would be spoiled if turpentine or oil was used as
they spread too easily. The best thing to use in gold outlining is
diluting medium with powder gold, but lavender oil is very good.
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