Longtime china painter still passionate about her art

Artist Jean Fehl was first introduced to china painting during a Peoria Park District class at Proctor Center in 1966.

"I would do anything to get out of the house - I had five kids at home," said Fehl with a laugh while sitting in the light-filled studio at her Bartonville home recently.

Married at 19, Fehl had five children over nine years, which left little time for artistic endeavors. She took that first class when her youngest was 2, and it turned into a life-long passion.

Fehl has been featured in national china painting publications, taught classes, and lectured all over the U.S. While the 78-year-old has slowed down her schedule in recent years, at one time she was traveling almost every weekend.

"I did that for a long time," Fehl said. "When my husband retired, he went with me. He would take his golf clubs."

During seminars Fehl spoke about the ancient history surrounding the art.

"China painting has been around forever," said Fehl. The art form has been around about as long as fine porcelain, which evolved from coarser forms of pottery. Before the manufacturing process for porcelain became widely known, it was much sought after, said Fehl. "At one point it was called white gold," she said.

Once the domain of professional artists working for china manufacturers, china painting became a popular hobby in the late 1800s when industrialization changed the way china was produced.

"I think the '60s and '70s were sort of the golden age of china painting," said Fehl. Many women did not work outside the home, and had more free time to devote to art.

People are attracted to china painting because they can create something both beautiful and functional, said Fehl. The variety of forms available for decoration is almost limitless, from the traditional china cup, to vases, tiles and jewelry.

Fehl has been painting china for so long she can do some designs, like roses, from memory. But for more complex images, she uses an extensive collection of photographs for reference.

Fehl always carries a camera to photograph things that catch her eye, from an interesting flower to broad scenic backdrop. On a trip to Colorado a few years ago, Fehl photographed a picturesque barn perched on a sweeping hillside which later became a watercolor painting she displays on her studio wall.