CPS Workshops

Weekend Raku with Chris Harford

9th-10th October 2010 - 9.30am-4.30pm

$110 CPS members & current CPS students; $130 non-members

Our resident potter, Workshop Manager and teacher, Chris Harford, is conducting a Raku workshop in October where participants will glaze and fire their own bisque-fired pots.

Chris has been a potter for 28 years, 23 of these as a professional potter and teacher. His works are in collections in the U.K, NZ, Ireland, Japan and Australia.

He is predominantly wheel-based, spending the formative years of his craft learning the technical skills needed to make high-grade functional ware under the guidance of Paul Fisher in New Zealand and later, as a trainee, production throwing the domestic range for the Jam Factory in South Australia. Then for a number of years he turned to making non-functional Raku-fired work; this is the style of work Chris will be demonstrating at the workshop. Chris has since returned to his first love, the permanence of high-fired stoneware and porcelain, but dabbles periodically with low-fired ware.

Commissioned works include a presentation platter to Sir William Deane, Governor-General of Australia, and a 12-person dinner setting for the Swiss Ambassador. Overseas commissions include four tile murals in Duffcarrig, Ireland and a large breakfast buffet setting for the Hyatt Kingsgate Hotel in Queenstown, New Zealand. In 1996 Chris established Spinning Gum Pottery.

During this workshop Chris will give a throwing and trimming demonstration, looking at forms that suit the process of Raku firing. He will give a talk on glazing and then participants will glaze their own pots ready for firing on the Sunday.

Bring: Mask, lunch and 5-6 bisque-fired non-functional thrown or hand-built pots. (Any clay, but Keanes White Raku works well with the provided glazes.) Tea and coffee provided.

Maximum participants: 12

To enrol, call 6241 1670 or download the flyer/booking form

Raku-fired bottle by Chris Harford

reduction bins (photo Ian Hodgson)

Workshop report - Figurative Handbuilt Sculpture with Bev Hogg

workshop report by Jenny Hadzi-Popovic

Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th June

By 9.30am on Saturday, a cheerful motley crew had assembled around two large tables in the members’ work area, ready for Bev Hogg’s much anticipated Figurative Sculpture weekend workshop. We each came with our own diverse potting history, experiences and ambitions; but were united with an eagerness to dabble where we had previous dared not dabble before, be inspired to embark on a new chapter of sculpting creativity – and, of course, have some fun!

On Day One, Bev got us to experiment with a variety of surface treatments on fresh tiles of clay to demonstrate the multitude of effects that can form part of a potter’s textural palette. Using any number of mundane to more exotic objects, we each made six tiles of varying surfaces which we then decorated using the smorgasbord of colourful slips, oxides and carbonates laid out before us. Bev encouraged us to experiment with layering, dribbling, sponging, scraping - and anything else that took our fancy - to achieve various results, ranging from subtle to startling effects.

In the afternoon, Bev presented a slideshow that gave insight into some of the influences that have shaped her work throughout her extensive and illustrious career as a visual artist. It was wonderful to see the variety of concepts, forms and social commentary that one can achieve through sculptural expressiveness, and ways to connect with your audience, on even quite depressing topics, with a touch of humour. We were then set our next task; to develop our own ideas and model a maquette, or miniature figurine, of clay that we would then try to expand upon as a larger work.

Some of us had already brought a myriad of ideas to the table and began busily building…others (such as myself) were contending with a newly-filled head of ideas, but left struggling to pluck out a single work on which to focus! Then all of a sudden, it was time to head home – and I was left to reflect on yet another example of how time really does have (jet propelled) wings when you’re having fun!

On Day Two, we were all heads down tails up, immersed in concentration to construct, carefully coax, texturise (and complete!) our sculptural pieces, incorporating one - or several – newly-introduced ideas and techniques to which we had been exposed the day before.

For some, it was mission accomplished, for others (again, your’s truly) it was work in progress - but for all, it was a fabulous fun weekend of learning and experimentation that stocked our creative cupboards chock-a-block full of wonderful new ideas to incorporate into our work for years to come. Many thanks, Bev!

Workshop report - Altering Thrown Forms with Maryke Henderson

workshop report and photo by Josephine Farrugia

Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th April 2010

A two-day workshop on altered thrown forms was held at the Canberra Potters Centre on 17-18 April. About ten of us (members and non-members) gathered around Maryke Henderson who was our tutor for the weekend. Maryke is famous for her signature long-spouted pouring vessels.

Maryke showed us different techniques for altering forms and making quirky shapes and structures. She also showed us how to make the long sculptural spouts for which she is known. This turned out to be quite straight forward. All you need is a knitting needle, some cooking oil and a well rounded coil of clay! A large size knitting needle is coated in oil to make it smooth and slippery. It is then slowly pushed through the middle of the coil. The clay is pulled over the knitting needle until you get the right length and thickness for your spout. The knitting needle is then gently pulled out of the clay which is left to become leather hard. The technique is quite easy. The hardest part is practice!

Maryke also spoke to us about her sources of inspiration and showed us examples of her work as it has developed over the years.

The workshop was incredibly interesting and challenging. Maryke encouraged us to learn new techniques, to be creative and to look at different ways of developing our own forms and styles.

It was a fun weekend and was over too quickly. We all went home looking forward to getting our hands into the clay to experiment with what we had learnt.

(This workshop was a repeat of the January workshop run by Maryke.)