Fotini Zarkanitou
In Greece Fotini Zarkanitou's name and her business "Ostrako"
is synonymous with the special technique called, "Mayiolika."
For 20 years, Fotini's art has been created using this ancient
method of painting ceramics over the glaze. I visited Fotini's
workshop to see her collections and watch her as she brought
each piece to life.
Inside I found her, paintbrush in hand, working on a new
piece while racks of others sat behind her fresh from the
kiln. She walked me through the unique process from the
beginning, first forming the figures using a wheel and then
firing them at 1000 Cº. Next, they are dipped into
a high resistance glaze and set out to dry. Once they are
ready Fotini scrapes in the defining lines and intricately
paints them one by one before sending them, for a final
time, into the kiln.
Using Greek symbols and her own curiosity for expressive
forms, she injects traditional ceramic forms with a fresh
perspective. I was impressed to see her patience with each
object, as she tended to each one with her small tools.
Having an extensive background and great talent as a painter,
Fotini's adds her colorful embellishments with personal
style and balanced precision. She is an advocate and true
believer in the value of handmade work and individual pieces
that are never made the same twice. Fotini's catalog includes
ornaments, platters, pitchers, vases, eggs, spin tops, and
much more. Each collection is done with a different motif,
from symbolic olive leaves to fun expressive faces.
Fotini studied at the School of Arts of the National Technical
University of Athens and has contributed to the field of
contemporary ceramics for years from her workshops in Naxos
and Athens. You can see her every year exhibiting in Greece
at the "Technima"
and the "Expo
Athens" trade shows or at the "Kentro Keramikis"
(Ceramic Center) in Maroussi, Athens where her ceramics
are permanently on display.
If you are interested in contacting Fotini for information
on how to order, pricing, questions or comments, you may
contact her via telephone (she speaks English) or send an
e-mail to Greek ShoppingGuide.com
for assistance. We are happy to assist you!
