Restoration Commission: Ceramic Vase Painting Begins After a Nail-Biting Repair

From Sanding to Airbrushing – A Delicate Transformation Begins

After weeks of detailed prep work and sculpting, this week marked a major milestone in the restoration commission of the antique green ceramic vase from Villa Bronja. It was finally time to begin the painting phase—a stage I’ve been both excited and nervous about from the start.

If you’re just joining in, this restoration started with reconstructing broken petals using air-drying clay over carefully pinned supports. Now, with all sculpting dried and sanded to perfection, it was time to bring color back into play.

Masking the Vase – Precision First, Paint Later

Protecting What Wasn’t Broken

Before any paint could touch the surface, I had to meticulously masked off the undamaged parts of the vase. This wasn’t just taping off a few spots—each delicate petal required its own careful isolation.

I spent over two hours masking each individual petal that wouldn’t be painted. Even the smallest chipped petals got their own protective layer. Once that was done, I wrapped the rest of the vase in plastic sheeting and sealed it to the tape. Why all this effort? Because most of the painting would be done with an airbrush, and I couldn’t risk paint overspray ruining the original finish.

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Color Mixing – Finding That Elusive Antique Green

The Secret to a Convincing Match? Patience and Layers

Mixing paint for a restoration commission is nothing like painting new miniatures. The goal isn’t just to make something look good—it has to blend perfectly with an aged, weathered finish.

I began with a standard green base and slowly built my shade by adding a few drops of black and layering in lighter and darker greens. After multiple test swatches, I landed on a mix that looked very close. But here’s the catch: this vase’s original paint wasn’t a solid color.

The antique finish was achieved using a watery technique—the original green had a translucent, washed effect, subtly blending with the ceramic’s natural white glaze. There was no way I could perfectly recreate that exact tone—but I could come close with the right technique.

Airbrushing Begins – And Then, Disaster Strikes

The First Coat: Ceramic White Underlayer

Before applying the green, I airbrushed all sculpted and chipped petals with a ceramic white base. This step helped cover seams and create a clean surface for blending my mixed green tones.

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Slowly Building Color With Controlled Layers

With my paint ready and the vase masked, I started applying thin layers of green with my airbrush, using a hairdryer between layers to speed up drying time and prevent drips.

Everything was going smoothly—until it wasn’t.

The Meltdown (Literally)

In a moment of total oversight, I left the hot metal end of my hairdryer too close to the airbrush’s rubber hose. The heat melted a hole right through it. No air pressure, no airbrush. No progress.

Now, I live on an island with no specialty art supply stores—ordering a replacement hose would take a minimum of 15 days. That kind of delay just wasn’t acceptable.

Creative Repair – Superglue and Medical Tape Save the Day

Panic set in, but I’ve learned over the years that stepping away helps. I took a calming bike ride and returned to my workshop with a plan inspired by an old trick my electrician teacher taught me: medical tape and liquid superglue.

I wrapped the hose with tape, sealed it with super glue, let it dry thoroughly—and it worked! The hose was airtight again, and I was back in business.

Painting Success – A Smooth and Natural Blend

I resumed my airbrush work, layering paint carefully until I was happy with the result. I used heavily thinned paint to recreate that blended green-on-white look.

After a few hours of focused painting, I stepped back to inspect the results. I have to say—I was truly happy with how it turned out. The sculpted petals blended in beautifully, and even the chipped spots were no longer noticeable.

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Sealing the Paint – Matte First, Glossy Last

The Importance of Protection

To protect the delicate paintwork, I waited a couple of days before sealing the piece. I began with a matte clear spray to lock everything in place without adding shine.

Then, for that final baked ceramic look, I applied a glossy varnish by hand. The finish gave the painted areas the same sheen as the original vase, completing the transformation.

What’s Next in This Restoration Commission?

The Final Reveal Is Coming Soon!

We’re almost there! The restoration is nearly complete. In the next post, I’ll share the final reveal of this beautifully restored green ceramic vase.

This restoration commission has been a huge learning experience—full of unexpected problems, creative solutions, and a deep appreciation for preserving old-world craftsmanship.

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Final Thoughts – From Crisis to Completion

This week was a rollercoaster—but one with a happy ending. From carefully masking and mixing color to disaster recovery with a DIY hose fix, this restoration commission kept me on my toes. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Thanks for reading—stay tuned for the final reveal!

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