Bert the Potter - Teabowls
Timing: 09:30 for 10am to 4:30pm Saturday
10 - 4pm Sunday
Class Size: Minimum 4, Maximum 6 students
Level: Intermediate ceramicists able to throw consistent cylinders
Clay type: Smooth to very groggy Stoneware
Cost: £412 (In full or in instalments)
What to bring: All tools are provided but you are welcome to bring your own plus…
Apron, Notebook and Pen
Aims of the course:
We are delighted to welcome master potter Bert (The Potter) Jones to run our two-day throwing and materials masterclass.
The aims are:
To improve fundamentals of bowl throwing and general throwing.
To improve making skills using very coarse grogged stoneware.
To explore and improve slip decoration in relation to stoneware clay bodies.
Day one:
Short introduction talk covering some simple ideas around making as 'correspondence' (from Tim Ingold's Making (2013) and the refinement myth.
Introducing the clays:
V9A (smooth)
Grogged pink (groggy)
Coarse raku (VERY groggy)
Demo:
Some throwing fundamentals
Approaches to bowl throwing in each body with the rugged Vs regulated dichotomy in mind.
Demonstrating both rugged and regulated bowls in each stoneware body.
Short group discussion regarding what people want to throw.
Workshop: remainder of the day spent throwing forms, focussing on refining technique and confidence on the wheel.
Day two
Demo:
Approaches to trimming: chucks, tool selection and moisture content (stages of leather hard)
Workshop: trimming the previous days work
Demo to finish:
Slip decoration approaches: pouting, trailing and brushing.
Greenware gallery of the work produced, freshly slipped and gloriously green.
This is a small group, intensive making and refining course allowing for plenty of tutor attention.
N.B. At the end of the course it will be possible to take your work home as greenware (charged for by weight) or to leave a piece at Vessel Ceramics to be biscuit fired to be collected later.
ABOUT BERT:
Bert the Potter at work
Bert is a Welsh potter and Doctoral Research Associate at Cardiff School of Art and Design, undertaking practice-led PhD research that explores fine arts relationship with functional objects and pottery as a form of abstract sculpture.
He graduated from CSAD’s Artist Designer: Maker program in 2018 and from their Master of Research in Art & Design program in 2019. Making functional pots and one off artefacts remains at the centre of his practice and research as he strives to be a better crafts-person and learn more about the art form that his life revolves around.
Bert’s pots range from simple functional tableware for daily use at home, to one off sculptural pieces for gallery settings and interior interventions. All of his work is made on the potter's wheel, the tool at the centre of his practice and ethos.
Head to the snapshot at 30 gallery for images of his latest work and current practice and to the tea bowl testing page to learn more about his approach to material technology.
Payment:
(If you would prefer to pay a deposit or pay in instalments then please contact us today at hello@vessel-ceramics.co.uk )
There is a non-refundable* and non-transferrable £198 deposit at the point of booking with the balance of fees due 3 weeks before the course starts.
It is strongly recommended that you take out travel insurance in the event that you cannot attend.
Before you book a course, please make sure you read our terms and conditions here, including cancellations. Please also read our student contract here.
ACCOMMODATION:
Vessel Ceramics is nestled in the heart of Moretonhampstead, ancient stannary town on Dartmoor. There are numerous, lovely places to stay though as it is a tourist destination, it’s advisable to book as early as possible.
To see examples of local accommodation, click here.