Description
This workshop offers a well-balanced combination of demonstration and hands-on participation, ensuring that participants gain both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. This approach is the most effective way to fully appreciate the joys of working with clay slips as a decorative medium, allowing attendees to develop confidence and creativity in their application.
Leading the workshop is Kevin, a highly respected ceramic artist and educator with nearly 50 years of experience in the field. As both a maker and teacher of handcrafted ceramics, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Slips have long been his preferred method of surface decoration, offering endless opportunities for personal expression. Through his guidance, participants will explore how this versatile technique can convey mood, texture, and emotion on ceramic forms.
Throughout the workshop, attendees will have the opportunity to experiment with the fundamental Art Elements—line, shape, colour, and texture—each providing a unique avenue for creative exploration. With Kevin’s support, participants will be encouraged to push boundaries, refine their techniques, and ultimately develop a personal decorative style that reflects their own artistic vision.
You are welcome to bring up to three small (mug size) leather-hard pieces to the workshop to decorate. This will allow you to apply the techniques you learn directly to your own work, making the experience even more hands-on and personally meaningful. We will also make some slabs of clay to practice on, giving you the freedom to explore different slip techniques before applying them to your pieces.
Key topics covered in the workshop include:
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Making slips with different consistencies to achieve varied effects.
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Colouring slips using oxides and commercial stains.
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Creating slips from wild clays.
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Exploring decorative techniques such as pouring, dipping, splashing, brushing, trailing, and printing.
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Enhancing surfaces by experimenting with textures in slip application.
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Observing and responding to slips as they stiffen during the drying process.
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Testing glazes on chosen slips to understand how they interact.
This workshop is an excellent opportunity to expand your surface decoration skills, experiment with new techniques, and develop a deeper understanding of slip as a versatile and expressive medium in ceramics.
- Please choose the time and date carefully. These classes are transferable to another person but we do not offer refunds.
- No firing is included in this workshop.
- Please DO NOT come to the class if you are unwell – you will be asked to leave if you are sick and no refund will be issued.
- A minimum of 6 students is required for this class to go ahead. You will be contacted if the class cannot go ahead.
- Wear clothes that you don’t mind if they get a little messy – please bring an apron or towel and don’t forget to wear closed-toe shoes!
- Please arrive on time (or let me know if you will be early/late!). Late arrivals will forfeit will that portion of their class.
- Please also wear weather appropriate clothing however I do have heaters and cooling available if required.
- We do take photographs during some of our workshops and these photographs may be shared as content on our website and social media platforms. If you do not wish to have your photograph taken and shared please let us know in advance before the workshop begins.
- Have fun and tell your friends!!!!
