Ceramic painter

Ceramic painters design and create visual art on ceramic surfaces and objects such as tiles, sculptures, tableware and pottery. They use a variety of techniques to produce decorative illustrations ranging from stenciling to free-hand drawing.

The following job titles also refer to ceramic painter:

painter of ceramic articles
ceramic designer & painter
decorator of ceramics
ceramic painter & decorator
ceramic designer and painter
ceramic artist
ceramics painter
ceramic painter and decorator
ceramic decorator

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as a ceramic painter.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Ceramic painter is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to ceramic painter.

porcelain painter
decorative painter
glass painter
wood painter
glass-blower

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of ceramic painter. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of ceramic painter with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

sound artist
venue programmer
assistant stage director
body artist
artistic coach

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of ceramic painter.

• Intellectual property law: The regulations that govern the set of rights protecting products of the intellect from unlawful infringement.

These skills are necessary for the role of ceramic painter.

• Create artwork: Cut, shape, fit, join, mould, or otherwise manipulate materials in an attempt to create a selected artwork – be the technical processes not mastered by the artist or used as a specialist.
• Develop visual elements: Imagine and apply visual elements such as line, space, colour, and mass to express emotions or ideas.
• Develop investment portfolio: Create an investment portfolio for a customer that includes an insurance policy or multiple policies to cover specific risks, such as financial risks, assistance, reinsurance, industrial risks or natural and technical disasters.
• Use artistic materials for drawing: Use artistic materials such as paint, paintbrushes, ink, watercolours, charcoal, oil, or computer software to create artwork.
• Create sketches: Draw sketches to prepare for a drawing or as a standalone artistic technique.
• Select artistic materials to create artworks: Select artistic materials based on strength, colour, texture, balance, weight, size, and other characteristics that should guarantee the feasibility of the artistic creation regarding the expected shape, color, etc. – even thought the result might vary from it. Artistic materials such as paint, ink, water colours, charcoal, oil, or computer software can be used as much as garbage, living products (fruits, etc) and any kind of material depending on the creative project.
• Articulate artistic proposal: Identify the essence of an artistic project. Identify strong points to be promoted in order of priority. Identify the target audience and the communication media. Communicate key ideas and adapt them to the selected media.
• Use paint safety equipment: Wear safety equipment appropriately such as face masks, gloves and overalls, in order to stay protected from toxic chemicals emitted during paint spraying.
• Contextualise artistic work: Identify influences and situate your work within a specific trend which may be of an artistic, aesthetic, or philosophical natures. Analyse the evolution of artistic trends, consult experts in the field, attend events, etc.
• Submit preliminary artwork: Submit preliminary artwork or art project plans to clients for approval, leaving room for additional suggestions and changes.
• Use painting techniques: Apply painting techniques such as ‘trompe l’oeil’, ‘faux finishing’ and aging techniques.
• Work independently as an artist: Develop one’s own ways of doing artistic performances, motivating oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
• Paint surfaces: Use brushes and rollers to apply a coat of paint to a prepared surface evenly and without leaving drops.
• Operate a ceramics kiln: Manage the temperature of a kiln to achieve the expected results according to the type of clay such as biscuit stoneware or porcelain. Manage sintering and enamels colours.
• Create original paintings: Create paintings, drawing from your experience, inspiration and techniques.
• Gather reference materials for artwork: Gather samples of the materials you expect to use in the creation process, especially if the desired piece of art necessitates the intervention of qualified workers or specific production processes.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of ceramic painter. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Ceramic ware: The production process and characteristics of various types of ceramic ware such as pottery, whiteware, stoneware, chinaware, porcelain or earthenware.
• Ceramics glazes: The characteristics, compounds and application of different glaze type such as raw or frit glazes.
• Paint spraying techniques: Field of information which distinguishes different kinds of paint spraying equipment and spraying techniques., and the order in which parts should be spray-painted.
• Types of pottery material: Types of clays and mud and their appearance, properties, reaction to fire, etc.
• Alumina ceramic: Aluminium oxide, also called alumina, is a ceramic material made of oxygen and aluminium which has many properties suitable for insulation purposes such as hardness, low electrical conductivity and insolubility in water.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of ceramic painter. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Select artistic productions: Research artistic productions and choose which ones could be included in the programme. Initiate contact with the company or agent.
• Collaborate with technical experts on artworks: Collaborate with engineers, mechanics, and other technical experts to build, install and move pieces of art.
• Study artistic techniques: Study a variety of artistic techniques and learn how to apply them in concrete artistic projects.
• Paint decorative designs: Apply designs in paint, using paint sprayers, paintbrushes or spray cans.
• Develop artistic project budgets: Developing artistic project budgets for approval, estimating deadlines and material costs.
• Confer on artwork: Introduce and discuss the nature and content of art work, achieved or to be produced with an audience, art directors, catalogue editors, journalists, and other parties of interest.
• Polish clay products: Use abrasives to smoothen the surface of clay products such as sculptures, dolls and models working with sanding papers, manual or power tools.
• Define artistic approach: Define your own artistic approach by analysing your previous work and your expertise, identifying the components of your creative signature, and starting from these explorations to describe your artistic vision.
• Study artworks: Study styles, techniques, colours, textures, and materials used in works of art.
• Use genre painting techniques: Use a genre or academic painting and drawing techniques.
• Create 2D painting: Produce a drawing by using a range of digital tools.

7316 – Sign writers, decorative painters, engravers and etchers

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References

1. Ceramic painter – ESCO
2. Featured image: By Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China – Ancient Greece Ceramic Amphora, CC0