Torquil Ceramic workshop part 2

Last Saturday was the second part of the Torquil pottery workshop in Henley in Arden. This time we were decorating our creations with oxides & glazes before leaving them in the capable hands of Carey Moon & Jayne Lucas for firing. I can't wait to see the finished articles! I just hope they survive in the kiln OK?

It's been a lovely experience to work with the paper clay & meet some really interesting people. I also took the opportunity to purchase some more pieces from Jayne for the gallery. These will be on display very shortly.

Torquil Pottery Workshop

I had a great day on Saturday taking part in a ceramics workshop at Torquil Pottery in Henley in Arden. I had booked the course as a Christmas present to myself. I thought working with clay would make a nice change from hard metal surfaces! I was most interested in the work of Jayne Lucas (who I stock in the studio). She uses something called paper clay which is basically a paper pulp mixed with a powder clay, then mixed with water. The paper obviously burns off during firing. The mixture gives great flexibility to the material.

The first piece I made was a 2D bird plaque inspired by Lisa Larson. I used some of my etched metal pieces to create patterns in the paper clay surface.

Then I surprised myself by doing some 3D vessels! With these pieces I have embossed the patterns into the paper clay surface before rolling the piece up to form a cylinder. I then 'squashed' it to make more of an oval shape & attached a base.

So these are being left to dry for a week & then next Saturday we will decorate the pieces with glazes! I'm really looking forward to seeing the finished results....

Workshop at King's School

I held a one day introduction to jewellery & metalwork on Sunday at the King's School in Worcester. They have a fantastic art department which was a great place to hold a workshop. We had 20 participants which was a little too many especially when everyone was hammering at the same time! I think the next one will have a reduced number taking part. However everyone seemed pleased & went away either wearing a piece of jewellery or clutching a wall hanging (which I hope are now being proudly displayed???).

Forthcoming exhibition 'Surroundings'

I'm taking part in an exhibition at Kings School in Worcester early next month. I shall be showing alongside Hazel Green's photographs and friend Sue Brown's prints.

In conjunction with the exhibition I'm running a workshop on Sunday 8th with some of the pupils hopefully giving them an intoroduction to jewellery making.