The Mountain
The Mountain
David Penela
2024
Screen Printing on Ceramic / 3 colors
150 x 200 x 6 mm / 5.90 x 7.87 x 0.24 in (approx.)
Limited Edition of 24
Signed and Numbered
Material: White earthenware
Coating: Ceramic inks (3 colors)
Finish: Transparent glaze
David Penela is an illustrator and part-time pizza aficionado, living and working in the city of Porto. Since 2007, he has been exhibiting his work regularly, both individually and collectively. His artistic practice spans drawing, illustration, and print techniques, blending traditional methods with modern digital tools. He draws inspiration from nature and popular culture, weaving together elements from his personal experiences and the wider cultural landscape.
The Mountain
SCREEN PRINTING MEETS CERAMICS
SCREEN PRINTED WITH CERAMIC INKS
Find out more about the production of this edition
WITH PORTUGUESE WHITE EARTHENWARE
FROM PLASTIC TO GLAZEWARE
Each tile is made one by one, with the slab technique, which involves rolling out the clay into flat pieces, using a slab roller.
Throughout the entire process, theres a lot of testing, cutting, waiting, handling, pressing, shelving and frequent follow-up, all of which require great care and patience.
Before printing with ceramic inks, each tile undergoes a bisque firing.
AFTER THE FIRST FIRING
BISQUE STAGE
In this edition, after the bisque firing, the tiles are printed with ceramic inks (one color at a time) and then glazed. Or the other way around.
With screen printing it's possible to print directly onto the clay, at various stages, using different types of coatings, resulting in diverse aesthetics.
In this collection, we use more than one process.
MELTING THE GLAZE ONTO THE BISQUEWARE
FIRING OVER 1000°C
Besides the use of ceramic inks on this edition, every piece is finished with transparant glaze.
Before it's finished, each tile goes through two firings - bisque and glaze - at around 1000°C(1832°F). From closing to opening the kiln, each firing can last more than 24 hours.