‘A Riot of Colors and Textures’

By Mary Belle Cordell, Fort Lauderdale Branch

Porcelain painting is my passion. After honing my skills in oil, watercolor, and ceramic glazes on clay, I settled on porcelain painting. My dreams inspire my artwork, for each dream is a kaleidoscope of colors, shapes, and themes.

I see the world through vivid images and a riot of colors and textures. As the creative process takes over, I not only take risks, but am willing to try new and exciting avenues in art. I am inspired by the natural beauty of Florida and the collage of people who reside in this state. Each person I see is the source of possible inspiration for a porcelain painting.

I try to promote the wonderful art of china painting by teaching and exhibiting. Often, the public has no idea that it is a fine art, or how it is completed. I paint on Limoges boxes, jewelry, plates, and tile. Each porcelain piece is fired in a kiln many times to achieve a beautiful, translucent effect.

About Mary Belle Cordell

Mary Belle Cordell goes outside the box to promote the art of china painting. Her work has been published in several magazines and exhibited at the Coral Springs Museum, Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton museums of art, and at Neiman Marcus as one of the “Best of the Best.” She has taught classes at the Boca Raton Museum Art School and the Bonnet House Museum and Gardens in Fort Lauderdale.

For the past six years, Cordell has worked with the Lynn Cancer Institute in Boca Raton to complete the “Wall of Hope.” Each year, patients, their families, and survivors come together to paint tiles for the institute’s lobby. This year, 300 tiles were delivered to her home in pizza boxes to be glazed and fired. She feels that artists must donate their time and talent to such worthy causes.

Cordell has been president, vice president and Woman of the Year of the Fort Lauderdale Branch.