Optional: Sunday, August 26, 2012 from 10 am to 3 pm
Pigeon Road Pottery, 7744 Pigeon Road, Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin
I enjoy access to other potters via social media. It has been a great way to see interesting work, to get help solving technical problems and to generate potter friendships outside of the small rural area I now live. I have been sharing the processes I use to decorate my pots for several years within this online clay community. I often get requests for more information about my tools, glazes and techniques. This was the catalyst for offering this workshop.
Pigeon Road Pottery invites you to an intimate workshop where I will share my techniques. Participants will be able to observe very closely the detailed treatments I apply to my pieces in my small and cheerful studio. Weather permitting, we may also work outside under a canopy surrounded by the woods and my home.
Fee: $250.00 Space is limited to 5 participants. Fee includes lunch on Friday and Saturday and shipping of pieces created during the workshop. Payment accepted by check payable to Pigeon Road Pottery or by PayPal.
Travel Information: Comfortable lodging is available in both Minocqua and Rhinelander Wisconsin. Rhinelander has an airport. Minocqua is a more touristy destination with cute shops and nicer restaurants. Visit www.minocqua.org and www.explorerhinelander.com for area information or contact Amy for suggestions.
Additional Information: Students are encouraged to bring a camera, sketchbook and any unusual tools they use to create textures on their work. The weather in August is usually lovely with cool mornings, warm afternoons and cool evenings. Dress in layers and for comfort.
To register: Send an email to amyhiggason@yahoo.com with your name, address and phone number. I will contact you regarding payment and additional information.
Workshop Itinerary
Friday, August 24: Carved and stamped textures and sprig decoration
We will start off the morning with a brief introduction of my background and my journey from Chicago to Wisconsin’s north woods. We will look at a collection of my finished pieces as well as photos of my work as it has evolved over time. Then we will move on to the many tools I use to make marks. I will decorate and alter several different types of vessels as I discuss my thought process, influences and techniques. Students will be encouraged to share their favorite texture tools and processes. In the afternoon we will create small textured clay tiles using tools available in the studio. Students may choose to have their tiles shipped to them after they are bisqued or to leave them behind for a new tile mural at the studio.
Saturday, August 25: Sgrafitto and Stencils
On day two we will start off with a short nature walk at a nearby forest trail. Cameras and sketchbooks are encouraged. Once we arrive back at the studio we will discuss developing a vocabulary of personal imagery as I demonstrate sgrafitto using commercial underglazes and a fine Kemper tool called the Wire Stylus. During lunch I will discuss my passion for illustration on pots as we will look at pieces from my personal collection. After lunch I will demonstrate using stencils. Everyone will then have an opportunity to make a stencil and try sgrafitto on a small leather-hard plate I provide. Plates will be shipped to students after they are bisqued and glaze fired. Shipping is included in the workshop fee.
Optional Activities
Dinners during this workshop are not included. I will be happy to suggest places for you to explore individually or as a group and join you as time permits.
On Sunday, August 25th everyone is invited to take my guided mini tour of some of the area’s other artist studios and galleries. There is a large artist community living and working within a 60 mile radius of Pigeon Road Pottery. We will visit as many destinations as participants time and interest allows. I will design this trip based on our conversations during the rest of the workshop.
Visit my website: www.pigeonroadpottery.com for samples of my work and background information.
Stay in touch at: www.facebook.com/pigeonroadpottery
