How to Design Mexican Ceramic Plates

The sun is a common symbol in Mexican pottery.

Mexican Pottery is distinguished by vivid colors, bold brushstrokes and fluid lines depicting elements of nature. Pottery designs differ from one region to another and are influenced by traditions, geography and the culture of each area. Designing a ceramic plate in a Mexican style can be as generic or region-specific as you want it to be.

Things You'll Need

• Pencil
• White paper
• Scissors
• Small paintbrush
• Plain ceramic plate
• Glass or ceramic paints

Instructions

1. Trace your ceramic plate on a piece of paper. Most plate designs are circular, but some are octagonal. Starting with a circle-shaped plate design is easier than when using other shapes.

2. Draw your focal point lightly in pencil in the center of the circle. The sun is a popular image in Mexican earthenware, especially in Aztec pottery, and it is easy to center in a circle. Desert animals, such as lizards and birds, are also seen. An animal in the center of the design is a striking element.

3. Draw curving lines, leaves and flowers around the center. Mexican pottery is decorated with marks that start out wide and end with a tapered tip or curve. Avoid straight lines and squared shapes and don't try too hard to make your elements realistic. Mexican pottery and ceramic ware are beloved for their folky, imperfect qualities.

4. Trace over your design with a pencil. Make the marks dark --- dark enough to be seen from the reverse side of the paper. Cut out this circular design.

5. Turn your image upside down onto your ceramic plate. Fasten it with tape so that it doesn't move. Press and rub the paper all over. Lift one corner to see if the image transferred to the plate. If your marks are not visible on the plate, re-tape the corner of the paper and draw over the lines, which should be visible from the back of the page.

6. Remove the paper and trace over your lines with glass or ceramic paint. Use red, blue, green and brown. These colors are typical of Mexican ceramics. Avoid pink, purple and pastel colors.

References

• DLTK: Mexican Pottery Paper Plate Craft
• Metropolitan Museum of Art: Talavera de Puebla
• Hearst Museum: Mexican Folk Art