The future of porcelain painting –
Alessa & Corinna
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MEISSEN has been known worldwide for centuries for its incomparable porcelain painting. In order to preserve this unique craft, it is essential to regularly educate new talents. And once again this year, seven young talents have successfully completed their apprenticeships as manufactory porcelain painters. Over a period of three and a half years, they learned the precise craft of painting on porcelain and developed their very own creative signature.
At the end of their apprenticeship, the young artists produce a very special piece: The keepsake piece („Erinnerungsstück“). This is the final masterpiece for which they can demonstrate all the skills they have acquired. A reflection of their drawing and personal development.
We present four of these young talents and their keepsake pieces.
Alessa Granzow
For her keepsake piece Alessa took her time, and rightly so. Over the years, she gathered impressions, visited in-house exhibitions, and drew inspiration from old, impressionistically painted sample plates. Her love for flower painting grew with every new technique. In her final piece, she combined what she had learned at MEISSEN with the free painting style she brought with her: colorful transitions, floral elements – and faces.
“I always loved painting portraits. In my keepsake piece, I combined that: faces within floral compositions – a little freer, a little more expressive.”
Alessa’s path to MEISSEN began after finishing school – without a clear plan, but with a desire for creativity. It was her father who pointed her to the porcelain painting apprenticeship. Together with her twin sister, she applied, and after the trial days convinced everyone, the path was set.
What does Alessa particularly appreciate about MEISSEN? The diversity – and the fact that every hand-painted piece carries personality. Even if the motif is the same, you can always see the person behind it. “I was often told I painted too dark. But today I know: that’s exactly what makes up my style.”
For the future, Alessa wants to stay open – to discover new departments, find her strengths, and above all not lose the courage to bring her own artistic voice into porcelain painting.
“Don’t get discouraged if your first attempts on porcelain don’t meet your expectations. It’s a learning process.“
– Corinna Granzow
– Corinna Granzow
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Corinna Granzow
For her keepsake piece the newly qualified porcelain painter was inspired by a visit to a museum in Amsterdam: a Jugendstil vase with a striking shape stayed on her mind. The combination of floral elements, clear lines, and painterly details became the foundation of her final piece – a design that unites both graphic and artistic-painterly techniques.
After finishing school, she first asked herself: how can artistic passion be combined with a secure career path? A family member’s suggestion to look into training at MEISSEN immediately sparked her interest. Together with her twin sister, she submitted an application – and both were accepted.
After a year of intensive drawing school and half a year in both Indian and flower painting, she chose to specialize in Indian. During her apprenticeship, she gained far more experience than she had expected at the outset – including even a placement abroad in Spain, where she learned about regional ceramic decoration techniques.
Particularly formative for her during her time at MEISSEN were the intensive drawing lessons at the beginning, as well as the exchange with the experienced porcelain painters and artists in the manufactory. Their passion and diversity of creative skill continue to inspire her today.
Her tip for future apprentices: “Don’t get discouraged if your first attempts on porcelain don’t meet your expectations. It’s a learning process – give yourself time, experiment, and bring as many of your own ideas to the porcelain as you can.”
For the future, she wants to continue trying out as much as possible, learning new techniques, and making full use of the richness of the craft – curious, open, and full of creative energy.
Stephanie Ziemann & Christin Neelsen
You can get to know two other young talents and their keepsake pieces in this article: The future of porcelain painting - Stephanie & Christin
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