To Teach, To Learn, To Share

Wax & Glaze Application Workshop

Picture of Glaze tongs

Learn how to apply clean wax lines and to use glazing methods that will enhance your bisque pottery. Improve your understanding on how different types of cone 6 glazes appear on different types of cone 6 clay bodies.

This workshop will run over 2 days, on Saturday October 5 & Sunday October 6 from 1-4 p.m. each day.  The cost for this workshop is $152.55 (inc. HST) for non-members and $135.60 (inc. HST) for members.  Online registration is found here.  Members please register for this workshop in the Gallery or contact Clara at for more details.  Space is limited, so don’t delay.  Please note that if you wish your work fired at the Guild, there may be a separate charge for this.

Darlene Malcolm-Moran is our teacher for this really informative workshop.  We run this workshop periodically to assist potters with glaze application issues.  Darlene is one of our popular teachers here at KPG and you will find her attention to detail very useful in this workshop. 

picture of Darlene
Darlene conducting a class

Throwing & Trimming Workshop

Black & white vase

Our very own Darlene Malcolm-Moran will be conducting this week-long throwing workshop at the end of August.  A popular teacher at KPG, Darlene’s work is governed by the tenants of beauty, functionality & form, as well as fine craftsmanship.  We know this class will push your skills to the next level.  This workshop is not intended for beginners, but for those already able to throw a 6″ cylinder, equivalent bowl and plate.  Improve your throwing skills to create well balanced consistent pottery. Learn how to trim and finish clay additions to your thrown pottery so all is well crafted.

Darlene conducting a class

This workshop runs the week of August 26 – 30, 2019, (Mon – Fri) from 10:00am – 4:00pm  each day ( Break: 12:30 – 1:30pm for Lunch ).  Please bring your own pottery tools and a lunch.  This workshop costs $372.90 (inc HST) for non-members and $327.70 (inc HST) for members.  Members please apply for this class in the gallery or contact Clara at for more details.  This class has a limited attendance, so don’t delay.  Online registration is here.

The itinerary for this week-long workshop:

Monday & Tuesday : Throw, throw & throw. Bigger, taller, & thinner. Bowls, cylinders, & plates.
The clay will be provided for the Monday & Tuesday classes. All pots will be cut in half to assess what steps are needed for your throwing improvements.
Wednesday : You may purchase clay from the Guild and we will be throwing pots that will be trimmed.
Thursday: Trimming your pottery. Smooth bottoms are important.
Friday: Finishing with clay additions, handles and decorating our trimmed leather hard pottery.
Discussing how to glaze these pieces.

marbled red, white & black clay tall thrown vase
One of Darlene’s vases selected for the 2018 Inspired Mud juried show.

Tea pot with matching mugs, creamer & sugar containers

Richard Mund Maijolica workshop date change!

Maijolica oval platter

Due to circumstances, we have been forced to change the date for this inspiring workshop.  Please note the new date is now Sunday, June 9, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Price is $110.00 for non-members and $100.00 for members.  Members please sign up in the Gallery, with your membership card, to receive your discount.

white mugs painted with grey and yellow flowers and bees
Richard Mund mugs

Richard began working full time with clay in 1994 as a potter’s apprentice in Des Moines, Iowa and has a B.FA from the Nova Scotia College of Arts and Design. We welcome him to the Kawartha Potters Guild!

Please note that this workshop will be directed to those with previous pottery experience.

For those who do not know, the practice of majolica has existed since the renaissance and involves painting, with glaze, on top of a previously applied white, tin based glaze. 

This workshop will include an introduction to the medium, safety concerns, a wax resist demonstration, a glaze application demonstration, an introduction to glaze colourants and how to make them, decorating and brushwork demonstrations.  If time allows, Richard may have some extra tricks and tips to offer.  There will be time for participants to work on pieces with his input and supervision.  Don’t miss this information packed workshop!  Our online registration can be found here.

stacked mugs and bowls in blues, yellows,greens and a pop of red
Colourful mugs & bowls!

Richard Mund Cone 6 Majolica Workshop is online!

We are excited to announce that this workshop is scheduled for Sunday, April 21, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  Price is $110.00 for non-members and $100.00 for members.  Members please sign up in the Gallery, with your membership card, to receive your discount.

white mugs painted with grey and yellow flowers and bees
Richard Mund mugs

Richard began working full time with clay in 1994 as a potter’s apprentice in Des Moines, Iowa and has a B.FA from the Nova Scotia College of Arts and Design. We welcome him to the Kawartha Potters Guild!

Please note that this workshop will be directed to those with previous pottery experience.

For those who do not know, the practice of majolica has existed since the renaissance and involves painting, with glaze, on top of a previously applied white, tin based glaze. 

This workshop will include an introduction to the medium, safety concerns, a wax resist demonstration, a glaze application demonstration, an introduction to glaze colourants and how to make them, decorating and brushwork demonstrations.  If time allows, Richard may have some extra tricks and tips to offer.  There will be time for participants to work on pieces with his input and supervision.  Don’t miss this information packed workshop!  Our online registration can be found here.

stacked mugs and bowls in blues, yellows,greens and a pop of red
Colourful mugs & bowls!

Richard Mund Workshop

Maijolica oval platter

We are delighted to announce that Richard Mund will be giving a workshop on Maijolica techniques at our Guild on Sunday April 21 from 9 – 5 pm.  More details and registration announcement to follow soon.  Watch this space!

Maijolica oval platter
One of Richard Mund’s maijolica platters.

Handbuilding with Monika Schaefer

Three clay bowls created by Monika Schaefer
Beautiful and colourful clay flowers by Monika Schaefer
Flowers

Sunday, October 14, 2018 – 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Cost:  $90.40 for members, $101.70 for non-members (all prices incl. HST)

Register Now

Monika has been an artist all her life where she makes a wide variety of whimsical garden art – from totems to dragon tails, tree bling and more! Monika has previously been a guest instructor at the KPG, and we welcome her back for this workshop!

Participants will bring slabs to this hands-on workshop where Monika will first take us through 20 tips in 20 minutes! Next on the agenda will be Handbuilt bowl demonstrations; Monika has a number of bowl ideas to show, and she will demo 3 different types. Participants will then have some time to try these techniques.

Potluck lunch!

In the afternoon the focus will be either ceramic flowers or handbuilt bird/faery houses, dependent on interest. There will be lots of time to try all these new techniques throughout the day.

Members need to pay in person to take advantage of the membership price. Please remember your membership card.

Three clay bowls by potter Monika Schaefer
Bowls

Glaze Formulation Workshop

Jocelyn Jenkins, Bird Plate

Check out our workshops page for this course.  This new course, beginning Sat., May 12, is intended for those interested in learning more about how glazes work, how to troubleshoot problem glazes or for those interested in formulating their own glazes. No previous clay or glaze knowledge is required. Darlene Malcolm-Moran and June Goodwin are both experienced potters and they are looking forward to bringing their knowledge and experience of working with existing glazes and designing new glazes to you.

Joyce Jenkins’ Sgraffito Workshop

Check out our workshops page for this course. 

Jocelyn Jenkins is an Ottawa potter who works out of her own studio in Old Ottawa South.  She is a fixture at the Old Firehall Pottery Studio where she has shared her love of clay with children of all ages for many years. Jocelyn is also a functional potter whose work can be seen several times a year in shows and sales in the area.  Through her work she attempts to forge a connection with her audience.  Although her work is primarily functional, she attempts to create a narrative that will draw people into her world – a world where a turtle or a snail might join you for coffee, and thereby provoke a smile.

 This workshop will cover some of the elements that go into making a successful design before launching into a hands-on demonstration of sgraffito techniques.  Students will explore sgraffito techniques using both slips and underglazes on test tiles and larger pieces in this all-day workshop.
Jocelyn Jenkins, Bird Plate
Jocelyn Jenkins, Sgraffito Plate
Jocelyn Jenkins, Sea Platter
Jocelyn Jenkins, Sgraffito Platter

Previous Workshops

2017

Throwing workshop with Thom Lambert

Saturday, November 25, 2017  10am – 4pm.

This workshop is designed to increase your skill while throwing on the wheel. We will focus on repeatable skills and approaches that will allow you to be more consistent, more versatile and more adaptable while working on the wheel. Special emphasis will be placed on finding the proper body position for your particular shape and strengths. This will allow you to throw better, and with less damage to your body.

Specific topics will include:

  • Ergonomic body position at the wheel
  • Using your body effectively to apply force to moving clay: use big muscles that don’t get tired as easily as small muscles
  • Establishing a methodical, repeatable approach to throwing that will lead to more consistent results
  • Self-assessment and trouble-shooting tools to help you solve problems long after this workshop is over
  • How to change your throwing style and body position for different pieces: taller cylinders, wider bowls, variable shapes
  • How to de-clutter your throwing space so that you can focus on making great pieces

This workshop will be suitable for developing potters that already know how to center, open, and lift a mug-sized pot, as well as experienced potters that want to take their throwing skills to the next level. Come with an open mind and a good sense of humour (and a willingness to cut pots in half).

About Thom

Thom is a potter living and working in the Haliburton Highlands. His work ranges from everyday, functional pieces to one-of-a-kind raku and saggar fired pieces. Largely self taught, Thom has been working in clay for 20 years. His inspiration comes from landscapes, both large and small: grand canyons and the line of windblown snow, great lakes and the curve of gray jays against the sky. He will try just about any technique in pursuit of this inspiration, but relies mostly on texture, glaze inlay, altering wet clay, and slip decorating.

Lisa Skog Raku Workshop

The Raku workshop with Lisa Skog is set for May 28th from 9-5. This is a hands on workshop exploring techniques to enhance your work. Participants may bring up to 5 small (less than 5″) bisqued, unglazed vessels or tiles.

2016

Image Transfer on Clay with Chris Snedden

Saturday, September 10, 2016 – 10:00 am – 4pm

Chris-snedden-workshop-4Chris Snedden has been a potter for over 30 years in London, Ontario. He studied at Georgian College in Barrie, and has since worked in almost every facet of the pottery business, from building electric kilns, teaching courses and workshops, and internationally. Currently he serves as Director of Artistic Programming at the London Clay Art Center, is a Ceramics Professor at Lambton College, and serves as President for FUSION. He’s a busy man.

Details and Focus:

Chris-snedden-workshop-3This is a one day participatory workshop. Participants bring some leather hard pieces to the workshop and we explore the use of mono-print, block print, and silkscreen prints on the work. In combination with more traditional slip decorating techniques, this gives richness and depth to the clay surfaces and allows the maker to explore the uses of imagery on their pieces. Chris has figured out an inexpensive way of making photo silkscreens in your own studio that can be used by anyone to create highly detailed custom images, complicated patterns, or even logos on clay pieces.

Handbuilding Workshop with Heather Smit

Sunday May 1, 2016 – 9:30 – 5pm

Whiskey-SippersHeather Smit is a Toronto area ceramic artist. She is interested in the development of relationships created by placement and repetition, and the use of functional ceramics to create sculptural works. Her current body of work brings focus to the simplistic beauty of the collected object.
Focus: Serving set. The serving set would include a pouring vessel, drinking cups, snack plates, & serving/storage tray. This one day workshop will allow instruction for the techniques used to develop each piece – which can be easily translated to future projects and ideas.

Details:

  • 9:30-10 Participants arrive. Tea/Coffee
  • 10-10:30 Template, mold and tool discussion & demo
  • 10:30-1:00 Hands-On construction (pouring vessels & cups),
  • 1:00-1:30 Lunch
  • 1:30-1:45 Handle demo
  • 1:45-4:00 Hands-On construction
  • 4:00-4:15 Surface decoration demo (basic wax mishima),
  • 4:15-5:00 Finishing up

2015

Intermediate Level Throwing Workshop with Dan Hill

Sunday, Oct 25th 2015 – 9:30 to 4:00

Come join us for a hands-on throwing workshop for intermediate potters, led by Wilno, Ontario potter Dan Hill. Dan’s beautifully thrown pieces are always popular and sell quickly at the annual KPG Christmas sale. He has won Best in Show – Best Functional at the KPG sale in both 2013 and 2014!

“I strive to make pottery that is technically and functionally sound, combines historical context with personal contemporary expression and provides the user/observer pleasure and beauty in everyday life.”

Dan will cover all the bases with this workshop – clay prep, wedging, throwing techniques – including altered forms, use of ribs and even breaking away from bad habits. This is one workshop NOT to be missed!

This workshop takes place in our own studios at 993 Talwood Drive, Peterborough.  Participants need to bring clay and throwing tools including metal and plastic ribs.
**Remember – the Kawartha Potters Guild studio is a “stoneware only” studio!**

2015-pit-fire-dan

Pit Firing & Potluck with
Dan Ferguson

Friday September 18th, evening, unloading pit Saturday Sept. 19th morning.

Raku Firing & Potluck – members only with Lillian Forester

Saturday July 18th, 2015 – 9:30 am to 2:30 pm
2015-raku$20 to be paid to Lillian, sign up in gallery or call 705-742-4979 to reserve your space.
“We usually start around 9:30 to glaze, start firing around 11, potluck at noon and done around 2-2:30 $20 to cover the cost of propane and glazes, no plates and 3-4 bisqued pieces each. Any clay will work! With each load, I put a cold brick on the hot shelf and then place each piece on a cold brick. So no dunting. Haven’t lost a pot yet and I work in porcelain!”
Please bring leather gloves, wear long sleeve shirts, NO SANDALS!

Marcelina Salazar

Saturday June 13, 2015 – Throwing workshop
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

marcelina-salazarIn this participatory workshop, we will discuss some basic principles of design, thinking about the life of a piece once it leaves the studio. We will also explore some exercises to help the participants find or clarify their own voice. Marcelina will demonstrate some of her throwing and altering techniques and working with closed forms.

This is a throwing workshop and it is necessary that you are an intermediate thrower to take this workshop.

In the morning we will make bowls, closed forms (like the tear drop vases in the picture above) and closed bottomless forms (the base for making hanging forms: lanterns, planters, etc.). In the afternoon we will trim and alter these forms, using a variety of tools and techniques.

Through demonstrations, discussion and hands on experience, participants will gain a sense of the significance of design in the making process, and some practical tools to continue developing considered work.

About Marcelina

Marcelina grew up in Colombia and moved to Canada in 1999 to go to university. In school, she developed a keen interest in food issues.
At the same time, her passion for clay was taking shape. Pottery seemed to bring her interest in food and food issues to the table.
So, after finishing a degree in science at Trent University, she decided to pursue pottery more seriously. In 2007 she completed a Ceramic Certificate at The Haliburton School of the Arts, and then she studied some more ceramics at Sheridan College.
Now she works as a full-time studio potter in her timber frame studio, on her farm in rural Ontario.
She also tries to spend free time with her husband, organic farmer Jason Hayes, and her beautiful dog, Kanuk.

Stamp-making Workshop with Guida Pirita

Saturday, May 23rd 11am to 3 pm

Guida-Pirita-Stamp-makingJoin us for a wonderful stamp-making workshop with Guida where she will show us how to make our own roulette stamps!  Workshop fee includes a kit with  1 thrown & trimmed roulette, 1 medium and 1 small handbuilt roulette, paper for design ideas, 6B pencil, and extra clay.  Guida will guide us through the steps of creating each type of stamp, and then everyone will create their own personal, one of a kind stamps!

Birdhouse, Faeryhouse workshop with Monika Schaefer

Sunday April 26th, 10 am to 4 pm

Monika Schaefer birdhouseHouses! Bird houses and faery houses – come build one or two with Monika Schaefer at our one day workshop on Sunday April 26th from 10am to 4pm. Monika will demonstrate several handbuilding techniques that can be applied to either bird or faery house construction using slab and pinch methods. Participants will then make their own creations.

Please bring: clay, including 2 slabs each soft and leather hard clay, approx 12″x18″each, tools, rolling pins, texture makers (stamps, rollers etc), notebook and pen/pencil, a sense of humour and lunch!

Monika has been an artist all her life and took up pottery 16 years ago. She makes a wide variety of whimsical garden art from totems to dragon tails to tree bling and more. She has been teaching pottery since 2007 at the Oakville Art Society and in her own studio. Her work is in collections worldwide. To see more of her work, visit: www.MonikaSchaefer.com

Raku Firing – August 23rd

We have also planned a Raku Firing on Aug. 23rd at the home of Sheila Brenchley, in Dunsford, starting with glazing at 9:30 and firing until all the pieces have been fired.

Maximum of 10 people, maximum of 3 pieces each (no plates please). Please bring a potluck lunch. Darlene Malcolm Moran will be assisting.

Decorating Workshop with Terrie MacDonald

Two-Day Workshop – Sunday July 6th & Sunday July 13

for more information on our participant’s work and images, see our photos  and visit our Facebook page as well.

 

Various methods and approaches to decorating will be presented. While many of these techniques grow out of an earthenware tradition the techniques are equally applicable for any clay body.

Day One:

  • Morning: Visual diary and finding inspiration.
  • Define slips, underglaze, engobes (whats the difference and when to use each)
  • Demonstraion: how to lay out and plan design
  • techniques in laying slip, underglaze, wax resist, paper resist
  • Afternoon: Hands on for participants.
  • Participants would use bone dry tiles, approx. 6×6″ and/or small plates & low open bowls (nothing too precious please!!)

Day Two:

  • Morning Slip Additives: Deflocculents/Flocculents/Binders – when to be used and how to use & mix them
  • Various methods for application of slip; brush, pour, dip.
  • Sgraffito
  • Making stencils
  • Using oxide washes and underglaze washes on top of slip
  • Afternoon – Hand on for participants.
  • Participants will work on leather hard tiles as well as bone dry (again nothing too precious for the sake of experimentation)

 

 

Kawartha Potters' Guild