PEOPLE Amazing Glazing

AMAZING GLAZING

During the local crafts fair held last winter in Cacela Velha a sparkle caught our eye. We were lured to a stand full of beautiful, skillfully painted and handcrafted ceramics. We spoke with German born Annette Kalle Baptista about her passion for crafting and ceramics.

What made you come to Portugal and more specifically, The Algarve?

I have come to hate that question, I feel like I’ve been asked that question every day for the last 38 years! To be honest, It was by accident. I came from Marroko and stopped at the Camping in Monte Gordo and I haven’t left since. I loved the Serra de Caldeirão, the herbs, the

We meet local ceramic artist Annette Kalle Baptisa and find out more about her and her amazing work simplicity etc... I bought a piece of land and started to live here. I also appreciated how people treated handicrafters, they have much more respect for it, plus I wanted children and here people love children.

How long have you been producing your art?

I’ve been crafting all my life, working with different materials such as making marionettes, jewellery using silver, producing cloth and more. In 1999, I started a course in tile painting and got hooked on it and bought a kiln, but I also like to work with clay, it's more physical whereas tile painting needs an incredible amount of concentration, especially because you don’t see the colours while you are painting as they change when they are fired. For example, in the photo where I am painting, the painting looks violet but after firing, it will be

cobalt blue.

How did you find your style of art?

Style is always a process and personally I like to change my style frequently, though when working with ceramics sticking to one style is much easier because trying anything new is a battle, especially when it comes to glazes. This is the reason why most ceramic workers have one style they stick to their whole life. In my tile painting I often do portraits of birds and plants because that’s what I like the most or the classic style of Azuleijos, for my private work I lean more towards abstract and expressionist pieces.

What has your involvement in art brought you?

My involvement in art mainly brought me an income and an identity. It's a lifestyle, sometimes a very solitary one, that’s why I also like to sell at fairs because that’s where we meet each other and exchange ideas.

What is the hardest part of your art making process?

The hardest part in ceramic work is to accept that around 30 percent of the time, something goes wrong in the firing. That means you can do something for hours and then it is ruined (That’s why most stick to one process to diminish the loss).

Where is your favourite place?

I love being in the Serra, near the Guadiana, or in the middle of my herbs!

What is your perfect day?

My perfect day is when I'm in perfect peace of mind! Or being with my friends in the countryside or on the beach or dancing.

Finally, where can people find you?

Tel 960021377 Facebook Azulejoannette Shop of my handicraft association Asta, in Tavira in front of the Palácio da Galeria where I also do workshops in tile painting or clay modelling. All my artwork is signed as “Annette”