This painting is from an old print I found in an antique store.  Many of the portraits that I have done have tan skin and I wanted to try very translucent pink skin (like a pearl) with some blues and greens in it.  When I paint, I set up some problem for myself in trying to stretch beyond what I have done before.  I wanted to capture a likeness and a mood in a portrait but also in this one, I wanted to try to show other colors in the skin.  

After this painting was complete, I embellished the outside with raised paste, gold and white enamel. Although you cannot see it in the photo, I also put tiny white enamel dots like tiny beads along the edge of the head covering.  Her name is Pearl.  

My daughter was a member of the ethnic dance club at her college.  I was visiting when they gave a performance at a tea shop.  This little girl had seen them before, and this time came dressed to perform!  She was looking up at my daughter with such longing and admiration.  I just had to paint her. (I did ask her mother's permission.)  So little beauty, I hope you are still enjoying life as much as you did that evening!  

This is a painting I did from an old sepia photo of my father.  He doesn't look like he likes being dressed up or sitting still.  Dad is in his 80's and that is still the case!  It is painted on a 10x14 porcelain tile including a painted mat with gold touches and framed.  I will see if I can take a better photo to include the whole thing.  I am glad to be home and itching to paint.

My imagination carries me away sometime.  This is my sister-in-law Mari.  She was born and raised in Mexico.  When painting this, I thought of those years in history when portraits were sent from Spain between families to arrange marriages.  I imagined that in Texas, if my brother had received this painted oval portrait, he would have realized the beauty and sweetness of Mari and would have waited impatiently for her arrival - knowing my brother, he would have probably gone to Spain to get her. I decorated the edge of the tile with black enamel and also used it for Mari's ear ring and necklace.

This is a portrait of my daughter Dori at 14 yrs. old.  She is now married and in her 20's. She was wearing a hat that was her great-grandmothers.  Growing up with an artist mom, kids just take it for granted.  Dori did not think it was anything special.  Her friends did think it was neat.  But when I did this portrait, I noticed that she showed it to all her friends and I thought she believed it was a very good likeness.  Unfortunately for my ego, I overheard her tell one of her friends, "Look, she painted my face with no zits!"  Important for a 14 year old! I embellished this piece with 24 k gold and black enamel on the coat collar and around the edge of the tile.

I have my computer back with more Ram thanks to my son Heath.  Here are both sides to a porcelain watering can painted with mice enchanted by the prospect of cherry tomatoes for dinner. Sort of stylized mice but good for a smile.  No, I did not work from live models.

Goldfish, well they look orange to me.  When my children were small, they would win goldfish at the school carnival.  They would have them for a while and then the goldfish would start to tilt.  When they start to tilt, they are gone-ers and there is nothing you can do about it but wait for the end.  So it's important that we all stay level - don't be tilting now.

Pink petunias - trying a Martha Stewart type flower arrangement with all the space filled.  It may just be habit but it seems to need some breathing space and wish I had added a bug!

I am going to be out of pocket for several days so I am going to post several paintings.  Thought I would do somethings not-brown so these will be purply-pink.  All three are on 5x7 porcelain tiles.  I sometimes try new things on small tiles before I paint as a big painting.  

This is my beautiful daughter Michele.  She is the wife of my son Grady.  She is as beautiful inside as out.  This portrait is really an oval with a black background but the oval was distracting in the rectangle space in the post so I removed the edge of the tile in photoshop. I am going to visit them (not the portrait, the kids) soon and I am excited.  This portrait lives in Louisiana with Michele's mother.   

This is a tall porcelain vase with magnolias painted on it. Only flat pieces have been posted so far, so I thought I'd post a dimensional piece. I wanted something striking because it would be a centerpiece at a convention banquet and then someone at the table would win it. 20 vases were being painted by different artists - all this shape vase. Since most porcelain artists do beautiful pastel colors, I went for chocolate brown.  I like to paint white subjects and use lots of subtle colors in creating the form.  I sometimes feel like my paintings are children that I am sending out into the world.  They are a part of me.  I hope you have a happy home Magnolia.  

Since artists have to do things different ways so we don't get stale, this painting was first drawn with pen and ink.  Then I did washes of color.  It creates an interesting texture.   Usually on painted porcelain, smooth is the plan so this was a fun change.   This little owl tile now lives in  the Netherlands. 

Here is a little flying squirrel painted on a 5x7 porcelain tile.  He is having a snack.  Speaking of that I haven't had breakfast.  One of the great things about painting is that I lose track of time and just get lost in the process.  One of the not so great things is when the UPS man comes at 2 in the afternoon and I am still in my pajamas and robe! I just go into the studio to see how the piece looks when I get up and before I know it the day is gone! (Actually those are great days!)

This is a Misty Morning at a Hill Country  TX Creek.  It is quiet and peaceful and I am just waiting for the deer to come for a drink, or at least that is what I was trying for! It is a framed original painting on an 8 x 10 porcelain tile.  

These squirrels were painted  on a 8 x 10 porcelain tile as a commissioned wedding gift. They look like a happy couple, don't they?

My First Post

Hi, I am Pam Dieckert, an artist who paints primarily on porcelain.  All the artwork I will display on this site is original and one of a kind.