Stefania's determination
Working at the wheel
making art for the saggar kiln

ITALY: The Unfolding...

Sat, Aug 1st, 2015 Each Day, Makes a Week...

Our ceramic workshop of 9-days, consisted of 4 full studio days, 8am to 8 pm, with a late night open til 10pm. Some students were in the clay studio at the earliest opportunity, while others took advantage of the late nights.

Each ceramic workshop day began with a 1-hour yoga class at 7:30am; then clay studio time after that. Instruction begins at 10am to 12:30. After lunch there was teaching again from 4-6:30 pm. In between, students can work as much or as little as they want and I was there to help or advise.

Our first day at the ceramic workshop in Italy was intro to the wheel with lots of practice time. Day two we began handbulding projects. Day three participants learned about trimming, burnishing and terra sigillata, day 4 was all about finishing & preparing our pots for the bisque firing and eventual saggar firing.

A drive thru chianti hills on bisque day, along with a visit with traditional potter Mario Marinari to watch him hand form large terra cotta planters left students with inspiration and ideas, as well as a respect for the heritage of handmade craft.

All this prepared us for the next phase, paper pod saggar firing process at our ceramic workshop in Tuscany, Italy.



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The studio hum..
The studio hum..
Clay creation begins
at La Meridiana School of Ceramics in Italy
The studio hum..
EvaMarie's focus
EvaMarie's focus
Hand building a 'life wheel'
at ceramic workshop in Tuscany
EvaMarie's focus
Phyllis' Vision...
Phyllis' Vision...
Hand building a beautiful form
at a workshop in the hills of Tuscany
Phyllis' Vision...
Listening intently
Listening intently
ceramic demonstrations by instructor
Brenda McMahon explains saggar firing
Listening intently
Brenda's platter demo
Brenda's platter demo
How to Throw a platter
Ceramic Workshop in Italy
Brenda's platter demo
JonCarlo!
JonCarlo!
Working at the wheel
La Meridiana School of Ceramics, Italy
JonCarlo!
Terra Sigg demo
Terra Sigg demo
preparing vessels for the saggar firing
Ceramic Workshop in Italy
Terra Sigg demo
Coffee clatch...
Coffee clatch...
Taking a break in Certaldo Italy
at Saggar Firing & Yoga ceramic workshop
Coffee clatch...
Potter Mario Mariani
Potter Mario Mariani
Visiting a traditional Italian potter
creating handmade planters in Italy
Potter Mario Mariani
His coil demo
His coil demo
working with Italian clay
Ceramic Workshops in Italy
His coil demo
Impruneta, Italy
Impruneta, Italy
A day exploring Tuscany
Kiln fires at the ceramic school in Italy
Impruneta, Italy
The studio...
The studio...
Simple tools used by traditional Italian potters
Making Clay in Italy
The studio...
Our group...
Our group...
Saggar Firing & Yoga in Italy
A day off seeing local potters and learning Italian customs
Our group...
Molds for pot details
Molds for pot details
Traditional potter forms
creating hand made planters
Molds for pot details
Kiln Goddess...
Kiln Goddess...
Watching over the fires
Ceramic Workshop in Italy
Kiln Goddess...
Hand formed vessel
Hand formed vessel
Potter Mario Mariani's hand made planter
Impruneta, Italy
Hand formed vessel
Loaded and ready
Loaded and ready
Paper pod saggars are in the kiln
Saggar Firing about to begin
Loaded and ready
Sunrise Stretching
Sunrise Stretching
Clay & Yoga in Italy
Ceramic Workshop with Brenda McMahon
Sunrise Stretching
Getting Ready
Getting Ready
Brenda waits for the group to assemble
for our early morning Yoga Class in Tuscany
Getting Ready
A new day
A new day
Sunrise in Tuscany
Ceramic Workshop in Italy
A new day

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