The Plan of Attack:

• Diving into White: We take pre-fired terracotta objects ("biscotto") and dip them in the traditional Grottaglie white glaze. It's thick, covers everything, and transforms the piece into a powdery white canvas.
• The Color Above: Now it's your turn. We'll use "overglazes" (colors specifically designed for this technique) to paint directly onto the raw white. You don't need to be Giotto, you just need to be willing to mix colors and see what happens.
• The Result: You see dull, chalky colors, but the kiln will work its magic. At nearly 1,000 degrees, everything melts together and becomes the shiny, vitrified surface we call Maiolica.

It's practical, quick, and you take home the satisfaction of having created something that looks like it came from a historic workshop (or a modern art museum, depending on your skill).