I‘m thinking about broadening my field of expertise(I paint murals) to include painted backsplashes for kitchens and elsewhere. I bought a book on how to lay ceramic tile, I just need to know if there‘s anyone out there with experience in this, and how they felt about it, any ideas?
I've painted ceramic tiles (to use as coasters), with great success using glossies paint. Just apply it to a clean tile, and then bake it in your oven at the specified temperature time. The end result is a washable, highly usable surface. Mine are now going on 7 years old, and look the same as the day I first painted them. They get constant use, too, which says a lot for the quality of the paint :) Another idea: You can purchase bisqued (fired) tiles at your local clay supplier. With these, apply underglazes (which you paint on like you would oils or acrylics--paint a picture or design, essentially) and then fire. Once the underglazes are fired, coat them with some clear glaze, fire again, and you have your finished work. These would be great for backsplashes. If you want to create a truly custom backsplash, though, you probably want to consider making your own tiles (who says they have to be square??). If you don't have the equipment (it can get pretty costly with a slab roller, kiln, tools, glazes, etc), you should seriously consider taking a class at your local community college or university. If you haven't worked with clay before, it will be good for you to learn the qualities of the medium; the importance of drying times, the advantages of using a particular type of clay, glaze interactions, etc. Good luck! You have a great idea for broadening your horizons!!! :)
