The Kailua Village Artists featured artist for April is porcelain artist and watercolor painter Betty Gerstner.
The Kailua Village Artists featured artist for April is porcelain artist and watercolor painter Betty Gerstner.
Gerstner has been a porcelain artist for more than 36 years and began studying watercolor in 2000. She now divides her time between the two mediums.
In the past few years, she began creating her own porcelain pieces to paint. After the glaze firing, the piece is painted with China paint. Porcelain painting, also known as China painting, is an ancient art, a process that was developed hundreds of years ago. The paint is applied to the porcelain in layers, and after each application, the piece is fired in a kiln. The paint is translucent so colors from previous fires can still be seen. A finished piece may require up to a dozen “fires.”
Gerstner’s latest watercolor painting featured is “Party at the Palace,” showing a glimpse of old Hawaii. Her newest porcelain creation is a large “Opal Octopus.” She will be at the gallery Tuesday in April, and will be featured during an artist reception 5 to 7 p.m. April 8.
The gallery, located in Kona Marketplace, is open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.
Info: 329-6653. ■