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Ceramics I at the Skopelos Art Foundation

I spent the first five weeks of the summer teaching Ceramics I. This class was different than a traditional Ceramics I class as three weeks of the course were taught in Greece. I've developed the class a few years back and am delighted that is has gone so well for the past two years.  If anyone is interested, yes I am planning on going back in 2013.  The Class started off in Panama City Fl at Gulf Coast State College for a two week prep course in hand building, and a brief introduction to Ancient Greek pottery, after a short break the class flew to Athens to visit historical sites. After a three-day stay  in Athens we traveled five hours north via bus and flying Cat to the island of Skopelos. The island is home to the Skopelos Art Foundation, a wonderful facility that offers artist residences, classes and workshops in multiple mediums. The Owner Gloria Carr and her daughter Jill Somer run the facility and do a wonderful job hosting students. I started off as a student myself ten years ago and have been back to the facility numerous times since then in every capacity imaginable. The island is small and quaint. The locals are kind and generous, and there isn’t a bad view for any vantage point on the island. 

Images form "The Skopart Foundation"

A view from the studio

Students hard at work

We made a sign for the Foundation!

Opening a Kiln

We tired them out ! Yes they are wearing PJ'S and sleeping on tables

Closing Ceramony

Images from Greece

Picks from Workshop

Hey All,

Just wanted to pass some images from the workshop listed below. Lots of fun, our friend Beau Raymond was an awesome host.  Got to visit The Roswell Clay Center, great environment, people, and impressive ceramic works. Pavel and I worked side-by-side witch I think is great for participants, because we work so differently. I always joke that there is an imaginary line down the middle of our studio at home because Pavel works with porcelain and I work with a nice rust colored terra-cotta. You can almost see the line in this image!!! Pavel showed participates how to make a mold using plaster and I build a pillow person.  We had a great time and as always learned new things ourselves. Happy Making!

Check out the following links
Beau Raymond http://www.beauraymondclay.com/
Pavel Amromin  http://pavelamromin.com
The Roswell Clay Center :http://www.roswellclaycollective.com/
Johns Creek Art Center http://johnscreekarts.org/

 

Artist Workshop - Join US

My Husband Pavel and I are giving a work shop in a few weekends  in Atlanta. Come join us for the afternoon. Pavel will demo his mold making skills, while I'll show you how to make fun funkie forms.

Collaboration - A-ha moment, we fall in love fast!

Me and UP

Lately, I've been interested in the idea of collaborations.  Some of this was sparked at a hands on ceramic workshop that I gave recently. I  thought it would be interesting to ask participates to trade work with one another during the processes of making. I was not interested in the idea of the participant giving up ownership of ones work, but rather having the makers respond to what was in front of them and taking it from there. Perhaps, I thought, this would make the individual see something from a new perspective. Unfortunately this wasn't the most well received idea.  What I observed is that after only twenty minutes of working on an object folks were attached to their project, and few would trade. So my general observation is that we all fall in love fast with our hand made objects, and that we are all saps! Even though I still think there is value to this idea, and I will try it in future workshop settings, what it made me realize is that I really was searching for that interaction and collaboration with other folks. I needed to step outside my comfort zone and make something fun and fresh.

UP's first drawing -book #1

A few years back, I made a bunch of small hand made books and never used them. The books are  pocket size 4 inches by 4 inches, small and intimate. Simple with black cloth cover, all hand bond. Last Christmas, I gave one to my Uncle Paul affectionately called UP.  I grew up with drawings from UP in my home, so it was a natural place to start. He and I have had fun reacting to each other's work. He completes a page or two and then we mail them back and forth, responding to the marks, images or colors. This past year I have given an additional ten books out and only one other has come back to me, I'm excited to start on it.  If anyone is interested in collaborating please let me know and I'll send you a book.

My Response - Gazing Mermen -book #1

Honey Badger Don't Care - UP on left- me on right