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Southern Art Ceramic Design was the preferred contractor to manufacture the new ceramic entrance mural at the prestigious Oyster Box Hotel near Durban in Umhlanga KwaZulu Natal.

We have not received images of the final installation, but here is the image that we have received with the brief.

The brief from M2K Architecture was plain and short;… recreate the above tile mural to the following dimensions of 2650mm wide and 1840 mm high…and to fit precisely into an engineered steel frame at the entrance. This contract was successfully delivered after having received an extreme short deadline of 15 working days!

In ceramic terms, it means that one prepare for the worst, and backup tiles for the ceramic panel were produced at the same time as the final ceramic mural was in progress and reaching completion!

The next image shows just one aspect of the R&D prior to producing the final panel, and that is experimenting with different brushes to mimic the original paint techniques!

Besides the above, shrinkage tests, colour coordination, layouts & design, transfer of design, etc. etc. had to be done within the first few days … even before the contract was confirmed … as it would have been impossible to deliver  a mural like this successfully if we had to wait for final confirmation!

Contracts like these that seem so simple in process are actually quite complex to execute within a tight deadline, and only professionals will appreciate this!

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At last!, a few interior  images of one of the Benguerra villas that we were involved with.

Below, you can see the detail and accuracy involved when we produce the tiles. The corner tiles were mitered for a snug fit and small inserts were made to finish off small areas. We worked from detailed architectural drawings and on our turn provided detailed diagrams for installation. At the studio templates were drawn of the scaled architectural drawings and the completed tiles were then arranged on these templates to assure that it will fit when the contractors install the intricate patterns. The installation diagrams were not always followed, I suppose it was due to the learning curve, when the contractors, possibly for the first time ever, had to install handmade geometric designs like these! But, you must agree - the end result is still awesome!

These majestic columns are the foundation of these African inspired interiors. Besides the columns we produced thousands of green mosaics for tiled built in benches, of which we unfortunately have no good images as yet.

To create harmonious interiors we need to play with for example, contrasts, as one of the design elements. The shiny cool glass or glaze of the tiles will be used to contrast with the matte earthiness of Cemcrete Earth Coats, a cement based paint produced by the client and owner of Cemcrete in South Africa. The smooth tiles will also be utilized to contrast with the textured fabrics and coarse wall coats.

The rich saturated African colour scheme was carried through in all the materials and is the powerful cohesive force working on the emotive interpretation of the visitor and/or guest.

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The Honneysett’s commissioned Gillian to create a ceramic art mural at the entrance of their seafront apartment. In their mind’s eye they saw dancing figures in a modern progressive style,  with vibrant colours and powerful dynamics.

Note the side tile panels which were done in fluid grey tones extending the dynamic contours from the main panel. The adjacent colours reflects onto the grey tiles which add a further dynamic to this richly decorative ceramic art mural. The blacks are intense and enhance the feeling of space and the powerful movement in the agile dancing bodies.

The clients are ecstatic with their latest art acquisition and we are thankful for a commission that is “of the beaten track”!

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Our ongoing customized colour & glaze development  has as a result enhanced another “One Of A Kind Kitchen”.  These handmade and hand dipped porcelain tiles with it’s green-grey tones has a slight smokiness to them but is pure enough to be fresh, is timeless and will attract many more compliments in the decades to come!

The handmade ceramic tiled back splash with French words has refreshed this classic English inspired kitchen, with a surprising French flair.

The incredible and overwhelming  response from her friends and visitors made this client to remark ” It was a bargain!” I am extremely confident that our commodity delivers more value per rand than any of the other appliances and decorative enhancments that a client will aquire for their kitchen!

The uniqueness of our products will always deliver value for your money - our product is more than just a tile, it is a commodity, designed with care and with special attention to your interior needs!

We are the top customization studio around and I believe that no kitchen can be truly One Of A Kind without our commodities.

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It took us more than a year to photograph this kitchen with it’s joyous green back-splash tiles. What a pleasant occasion! First of all, being situated in Higgovale, Cape Town, just below Table Mountain makes for a stunning position … a dream come true. The kitchen is a true showcase of a young artistic family, with the mother and children indulging in art, creating these aw-inspiring horses and elephants during their spare time in a studio with a true IMAX view!

The client requested a mix of green tones for these chunky tiles. The greens were customized and has since been a hit with other tile contracts as well.

One would expect these tiles in a country farm style kitchen, but this nothing like that, it is modern with the all important tiles adding soulfulness, a quality so often neglected by professional teams when they design the most important room in your house! It compliments the modern materials like the stainless steel rails and cast concrete work surfaces, but at the same time finds support in the character of the checkerboard wood table where the family sit eat and share!

Green creates an atmosphere of harmony, balance and peace. The green glaze radiates sympathy, kindness and understanding and it is a call for us to come home, to rest and to share precious time with our beloved friends and family. Green develops an awareness of the soul and this next image relate to exactly that quality!

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These Sculptural art tiles were created with composite pieces of ceramics and then instinctively painted with an oversize brush and the use of a swift moving hand.

I created these faces in 2008 and kept them close to my heart for a long time, well till now, when it got sold. The client just “clicked’ with my work, a great feeling when considering the progressiveness of style and emotion.

It is only the face at the top right which display female features, with the rest all male. This was not intentional and only appear as I build a relationship and interact with the 3d canvass during the process of creation.

These faces will be displayed in a penthouse right on the seafront of Umhlanga Rocks and not far from a previous contract at the Oyster Box hotel.

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Gillian Greer was commissioned to hand paint this thoroughbred racing horse, in memory of Tony Taberer of Avontuur Wine Estate and Stud Farm.

The confidence in the use of brushstroke and the proud glittering eye makes for an exceptional arttile. It draws and holds the attention of the viewer as only a champion can!

The rich brown colours of the coat invites the viewer to stroke the strong neck of this powerful race horse at Avontuur Wine Estate and Stud Farm.

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Our shopping portals are gaining momentum and the sales has been a pleasant surprise for us.

At the www.handmadetiles.co.za website, we sold 6 tiles from the category ” In Circles We Walk” and the testimonial of this sale makes us proud.

Môre Gerrit,

Baie dankie, die teëls is reeds Vrydagoggend 10:00 by my afgelewer – eintlik verstommend vinnig.

Hulle is baie mooier as wat ek gedink het! Baie dankie!

Dankie ook vir die geskenk. Ek stuur vir jou ‘n foto wanneer hulle geinstalleer is.

Groete,
Chris Fourie.

One example

At our www.arttilegallery.com website, we sold the following Arttile by Gerrit Oosthuizen.

The greatest achievement is the fabulous spin-offs from these sites, and the income generated from commissioned sales are actually outstripping the actual sales!!

The building of these websites of which both are still in development took 1000’s of hours of photographing, editing, loading, labeling, etc. to feed the sites,  a mammoth task for a small studio like ours!

Enjoy the websites and follow their growth!

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There are so many ideas, and this is just but another one. Do you have any ideas of your own?

These same words can be done in French … of miskien Afrikaans!

This panel on a 30 working day delivery will cost R4772 and 20% less on a 45 working day delivery.

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This commission at a home in the heavenly De Zalze Golf Estate near Stellenbosch is attracting a lot of attention and it is easy to understand why many visitors to this De Zalze property just stand and watch these stairs with it’s inlayed hand painted grape tiles in awe!

The pictures compel you to climb the stairs to discover other stairs winding upwards to other rooms, private patios and a lovely herb garden with awesome views over the De Zalze vineyards!

These handmade and hand painted tiles are inlayed flush with the cement. The contractors at this superb De Zalze property constructed stairs which are technically superb and with a colour finish that reflects onto the white walls with a mesmerizing  soft romantic  “glow”!

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