Materia Ceramica is part of the long and ancient Umbrian ceramics tradition, famous in the world thanks mainly to the ceramics of Deruta.
Umbria has a unique and important heritage of expertise in the field of ceramic work which is continuously enriched through research and innovation.
I was born and work in Perugia, but I consider Deruta my second home. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to meet so many master craftsmen over the years who have helped me and given me valuable advice.
From the very beginning, every item in my Materia Ceramica workshop has been forged by Deruta’s master artisans.
The clay used by the potters of Deruta has multiple properties. Extracted from quarries near the Tiber River, it undergoes special refining processes that renders it malleable and easily shaped.
It has always been fascinating to go to Deruta and enter the workshop of a potter, observing his creations one by one to find the one that sets my creativity and imagination in motion.
Once I have chosen the terracotta item to be decorated, I take it to my workshop to polish it, dust it, dip it in a white glaze bath and let it dry. Finally, I touch up the dry piece which is finally ready to be painted.
My Decorating Technique
When I paint, I love to mix colors to obtain multiple shades. Being able to paint the infinite variations of the green of a forest is a challenge for me; adding a touch of fiery red brings my ceramics to life.
For the painting, I use metal oxide earths and powders mixed with water which produce the color. I use long, soft-haired brushes that glide perfectly over the dusty, absorbent surface of the glazed item.
Learning the use of the brush in overglaze painting required a long period of practice for my hand to gain confidence. Today I perform freehand painting with immediacy and spontaneity: my hand flows as it’s driven by creativity.
My handmade ceramic creations tell the story of Perugia and Umbria: the history, culture, villages and nature that distinguish this beautiful area.
Art critic Claudia Bottini described my ceramics this way:
“The skill acquired by the master craftsmen of Deruta blends with a way of understanding painting on ceramics that is completely original with respect to the longstanding Umbrian artistic tradition. The views of the Umbrian landscapes are at the heart of the functional ceramic pieces. The result of a careful study of perspective and extraordinary skill in freehand painting, the architecture of Perugia and its countryside replicated on plates, vases and lamps give the impression of being able to walk in them.”
Maria Antonietta Taticchi
