A special shout-out of thanks to Diane Williams and Carylon Fechser for participating in the 23rd annual Retirement Expo that was held this week at the Jaycee Community Building.  

Diane and Carylon demonstrated China painting and ceramic painting and talked to many attendees who expressed an interest in the Porcelain Arts.  Everyone who has participated in such an event knows the commitment and work that go into organizing this type of expo.  Thanks, girls!

Don't forget to make plans to attend HPAC's Spring Potluck Luncheon on Monday, May 9th, 10:30 til ? in the China Painting Room at the Senior Center.  See you there!

 After many years of being inactive, the North Alabama China Painter's blog is back online.  Although this site was idle, we painters definitely were not!

On Friday, April 8, 2022, the HPAC met for the first time in over 2 years.  It was wonderful to gather with friends after such a long absence.

For many years club members have participated in an annual Design Challenge.  Each January, Brenda Holmes announces the theme and painters activate their imaginations.  

The 2020 theme was PURSES but, unfortunately, our creations had to wait a couple of years to be debuted:

A beautiful purse with gloves was painted by President Johnnie Cooper:

My First Purse is a piggy bank!  It was painted by Diane Williams:

Brenda Holmes, Betty Dunaway and Dora Benavides took the Purse theme to an imaginative new level:

Diane Williams painted a beautiful tray and saucers while Cindy Daly, Jan Morrow and Brenda Holmes tried their hands at painting decorative tiles:

The Design Challenge of Purses follows previous challenge themes of shoes and hats.  HPAC members were encouraged to bring those painted items to complete the 'Trilogy of Accessories':

Christa Phillips shared her incredible talent:

Diane Williams and Carylon Fechser joined creative forces and painted this whimsical tile of shoes:

Note:  Click on images to enlarge them.

Following the meeting members generously allowed their creations to be placed in the club's display case in the Senior Center lobby to share with the public.  As you can imagine, even before all of the pieces could be placed in the cabinet many people stopped to ooh and ahh!

You can view the HPAC members' works through the end of May at the Huntsville Senior Center at 2200 Drake Avenue SW, Huntsville, Alabama.

The next meeting of the HPAC will be a potluck lunch held on Monday, May 9, 2022, in the China Painting room at the Senior Center beginning at 10:30 a.m.  Baked ham, rolls and drinks will be provided.  Each attendee is encouraged to bring their favorite dish.

Officers for 2022-2024 will be installed and a schedule of club activities, seminars and demonstrations will be discussed.  Hope to see you there!  -- Jan Morrow, HPAC Secretary

The Huntsville Porcelain Artists Club is using every medium available to spread the glory of China painting - a monthly newsletter, frequent emails and this blog.  Check with us on a regular basis to find notifications, China painting news and beautiful images of our works!

The Undisputed Queen of Roses

 You don't have to be an art historian to instantly recognize the work of Catharina Klein.  Born in 1861 in East Prussia, Ms. Klein has been as recognized as the premier still life and nature artist of her era.

For 30 years Ms. Klein painted for the Meisner & Buch advertising company.  Roses are the subject of over 350 of her paintings.

Ms. Klein's paintings have been featured on millions of postcards, posters, calendars and in print but, sadly, few of her original works survived WWI and WWII. 

 Click here to view a short video featuring many of Catharina Klein's paintings.  The undisputed Queen of Roses, she truly is a painter to emulate.

Welcome, March!

Winter is almost over and North Alabama china painters are eager to start new and interesting projects.  

The Decatur Porcelain Artists Guild will meet on Thursday, March 10, from 10 am to 2 pm at the Hobby Lobby on the Beltline (303 Beltline Place, Decatur, AL.)

Elaine Beard is providing the program, a paint-along featuring a 'fish and crazy cat.'  The meeting will be a great time for members to create their mugs/cups for cancer patients.  Below is the supply list.

Supplies for 1st Fire:
2 coffee mugs or tiles
tile for mixing paint
small spray bottle for spritzing
2½" or 5/8" square shaders
small bottle of water and bar soap for cleaning brush
regular brush cleaner
10/0 liner
water base medium
wipe out tool
eyedropper
stylus or pick to remove contact paper
scissors
dark blue dry powder paint
teal blue paint mixed with open medium (any blue/green will be fine)
moss green mixed with open medium
black mixed with open medium
black dry powder to mix with water base medium
Stabilo pencil to freehand the cat face (or use graphite paper to trace cat face)
Elaine has contact paper, patterns and alcohol to share.  Fire at .017 or .016.

Supplies for 2nd fire:
Fish mug: black dot for eye or any other details with water base paint.  When dry, paint fish with oil-based paints the colors you desire (suggestion: mostly yellow red with chartreuse for bellies.  Wipe out fins and gills.)  Using straws of different sizes to dip into base for gold and make bubbles rising to the surface.  Fire at .017.
Cat:  paint eye with oil-base chartreuse, shaded.  Fire at .017.

The Huntsville Porcelain Artists Club is gearing up to kick off Spring at their March meeting.  The group will gather at the Huntsville Senior Center on Drake Avenue on March 11th at 9:00 a.m.

Diane Williams will conduct a paint-along demo featuring bookmarks painted with china paints to look like watercolors.  Members are asked to bring their paints and brushes and Diane will furnish watercolor paper, patterns and sealer to make the bookmarks waterproof.  These are great gift ideas.

Members of the Decatur club and the Huntsville club are encouraged to invite guests to the meetings.  Let's spread the joys of china painting!

Lydia Smith painted the tiger, below, at

Darlene Cooley-Williams' recent seminar.

Grrrrreat job!

Anna Marie Skonieczny attended Darlene Cooley-Williams' recent seminar sponsored by the Decatur Porcelain Arts Guild and painted this beautiful horse:

The name of the horse is Deevine.  It took 5 firings to achieve the final painting.

China painters, share your pieces with us.  Send photos to JanGMorrow@Gmail.com.

Elaine Beard recently painted her furry best friend, Greta the Schnauzer:

Elaine also painted a portrait of her beautiful granddaughter, Mary Kate:

Wonderful paintings, Elaine, as well as memorable heirlooms.