SCG Workshop Two with Jennifer Rugge: Ceramics

Become an Earth Conscious Artist! Welcome to participants of all levels and abilities! Mix and apply natural earth minerals onto clay surfaces. Learn how to use non-toxic and earth friendly processes to create a safe studio environment and clay works. Visit ancestral roots that link Art to the Earth in this three day workshop.

Participants are introduced to earth paints and clay slips that can be applied to clay surfaces. They are to prepare raw clay slips and paints to use on artisan stone bowls. Each are to make clay bowls over stones using slabs of clay. Patterns and drawings in slips and paints are applied to the leather-hard surfaces. Participants will engage in processes that integrate and use natural products to create earth-friendly clay art while exploring ancient methods with a contemporary twist (Paleolithic cave dwellers, pit-fire, and wire) and ways to transpose a studio space into a more earth friendly environment.

Day one: Morning — After a demonstration, participants are to roll out slabs of clay and prepare them for beginning to create bowls. Lunch break; Afternoon Demonstration of the ins and outs of working clay slabs over stones to create bowls. Participants will follow this method to create their own bowls. These will sit covered overnight.

Day two: Morning — Demonstration in making and mixing raw clays into slips and natural minerals into paints whereby participants will make their own slips and paints that are placed into 2 oz. jars for keeping. Lunch break; Afternoon Demonstration in painting on pre-fired clay surfaces, uses and applications of clay slips and paints. Participants will paint and are invited to use patterns and templates to guide them through drawing onto clay surfaces. All are introduced to methods and ideas surrounding Paleolithic Cave painters of Europe, Australia and South Africa as well as methods in pit-firing (Photos and brief talk describing effects).

Day three: Morning — A short demonstration of adding wire and other textures onto bowls. This will be a work day to finish up applications of slips and mineral paints. Lunch break; Afternoon is spent painting along with guidelines to creating your own eco-friendly studio space and a time for discussions and feedback. Participants can take artisan stone bowls to be fired at a place they choose or offer a firing by a local studio (like Alpha Fired Arts or IMCO)

Participants leave with knowledge of making raw clay slips, natural minerals into paints, hand-outs on processes and websites, mixed paints and slips, tools and art pieces.

All materials and supplies included in the registration price.

Teaching Artist: Jennifer Rugge