Primitiva Tile promises a distinctive, artisan finish to any tiled space. The carved surfaces of these tiles and their subjects call you to touch them. Originally, I started making 4 x 4 tiles. Eventually, these evolved into borders that may be a one tile repeat or a two tile repeat that creates the effect or story.                                                

 Primitiva Tile uses an old tradition of carving, creative negative molds from plaster, and pressing clay in the molds to return positive images of the original. A limited number of tiles can be made from a mold depending on the type of clay I use and the amount of detail that must be replicated.

Many steps are required to create the final tile. Besides pressing tile, each tile is carefully dried to remain flat. I then sand each tile before it goes through the first of typically two firings in the kiln. The first firing may take eight to 12 hours. Once cooled down for 12 to 24 hours, I wash each tiles  to remove residual minerals that are now dust on the surface of the clay and would prevent glaze from adhering properly. After glazing each tile, the edges are cleaned and I place the tile in the kiln for its final firing of eight to 12 hours with a similar cool down period as the first firing. Opening the kiln is like opening a giant box of presents.                                                         

Primitiva Tiles can be ordered from my existing "library" of tiles or I can custom design a tile.  My library consists of flowers such as trillium, calla lilies, bleeding heart, clematis, lilies of the valley and more. Most of these tiles are 6 x 9 inches. I also have thin borders to combine with these tiles or to use by themselves such as waves, ribbons, leaves, and vines.

Primitiva Tiles also offer themes of frogs, cats, hummingbirds, and sea turtles in small accent tiles or framed as pictures. These tiles range in size from 4 x 4 to 10 x 12. 

  New, sculptural bird tiles were introduced fall of 2008 at the annual Artisan Tile NW Tile Festival in Seattle, WA.  Small, framed sculptural scenes offer the personality of birds perched on branches amidst leaves interacting with one another. These tiles can be used as accent tiles in tile installations.  

New, sculptural bird tiles were introduced fall of 2008 at the annual  Artisan Tile NW Tile Festival in Seattle, WA.  Small, framed sculptural scenes offer the personality of birds perched on branches amidst leaves interacting with one another. These tiles can be used as accent tiles in tile installations.   

© Maria P. P. Root, all rights reserved. 

Powered by CityMax.com