smoke firing workshop

We had some great result from the saggars and created a good barrel pit firing.

Raku Workshop

Oops there was a mistake with the date of the Raku workshop. I will hold it only beg March and have changed the date in the previous post. There was clearly not enough time for pots to be made and ready for the February date.

The Journey

What do you know. they have finally put my sculpture up again in Switzerland. It is out of storage and mounted on a traffic circle in Biel, Switzerland, alas minus a nose at the moment. I am debating whether to let the local art school fix it up (with my instructions) or go there myself,. Definitely not right now, one could do nothing in this severe cold weather and freeze.

Workshops on low fire reduction

Reduction Firings have always been my passion and the main reason why I make things in clay. As a mad pyromaniac I am offering two participating workshops in March and April 2011. I have limited participation for both workshops to 10 people to be able to give everyone my full attention and guidance.

There will be a 20% price price reduction if both workshops are booked at the same time.

RAKU
This workshop is intended for people who want to experience a Raku firing, learn how to make up simple glazes, build a simple Raku kiln and get familiar with various post firing methods. We will work with traditional lustre Raku glazes as well as the "Naked Raku" technique.
Participants will bring 4 bisque pots made according to specifications that I will mail to people who have booked. I will also provide slips and terra sigillata if wanted. Notes with glaze recipes and firing techniques are available on completion of the workshop.

The workshop will be held on Saturday, 5th March 2011 at my studio from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m
Bring lunch to share, Tea and coffee will be provided
Cost 1000 inclusive


SMOKE FIRINGS IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT

In this workshop you will explore various ways of saggar firing (black ware and multi colour effects) and simulate a pit firing in a barrel.
Participants may fire up to 8 pieces made according to specifications which I will mail to people who have booked. Terra sigillata and slips will be provided at the same time.

The workshop will be held over a weekend. For out of town participants accomodation for 2-3 people is available at the house as I also run a bed & breakfast business under the name of Kingfisher Lodge (see my page on facebook) reduced rates will apply

Saturday

• Introduction with Power Point presentation
• packing various type of saggars
• fire saggars in electric and Raku kiln
• packing and lighting of the barrel kiln

Sunday

• more saggar firing in Raku kiln
• open fired saggars and barrel kiln
• Evaluation and discussion

The workshop will be held at my studio Saturday 2nd April 9 a.m. - 4 pm Sunday 3rd April9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Bring lunch to share, tea and coffee provided
Cost 1200 inclusive

For more information and booking contact me at (011) 467 2624 cell 082 3301066 email tenmoku@ global.co.za or elsbethburkhalter@gmail.com

I am back

Hi everyone, I feel like rising out of the sea or something. I have been working for some time now but only recently I got clearer about what direction I want my work to go. Porcelain has finally won me over but it took me a long time to let go of the freedom I got so used to when working with the rough stoneware clay. But the soft and creamy consistency of porcelain has now seduced me and I am beginning to enjoy handling it and embrace the very different firing problems At this stage I see myself switching from one material to the other when the work demand it.

I have also started to experiment with printing directly onto the clay surface as well as making my own decals and find this sometimes difficult but very stimulating.I an cuurrently working on an installation in porcelain and the work should soon be completed, at least the first version of it and I am excited.

Art Canal Exhibition 2002

This exhibition was held during Expo 2002 Switzerland. 25 Swiss artists were invited to exhibit and 25 works were chosen from applications by Swiss born artist living abroad. The work had to be site specific e.g. to be positioned alongside a waterway (canal) and bear some representation of the artists adopted culture. My work The Journey was the only one chosen from Africa. The 4 metres high stainless steel structure is covered with ceramic panels, fired to 1220 degrees in an oil kiln.
I need to decide now what to do with the sculpture which is presently in storage in Switzerland and plan to make the final decision to ship it back to S.Africa or abandon it when I will be there in October. Not easy....

All these months I was busy building some badly neeeded additions to my studio, as the workspace was far too crammed and there was not enough electricity to operate my large kiln. But hooray the end is near, Although I have been working sporadically none of my ideas got taken further than the technical testing stage. I have now put a slideshow of some of my previous work on this blog and will periodically add images as the work pogresses and evolves.

Some weeks back I was doing raku firing together with other pyromaniac potters at the Clay Festival for people who wanted to experience the process .

I will hold a six week course on raku in October which willl include participation in a Japanese Tea Ceremony. This will give the students a new perspective of the traditional Japanese tea bowl and insight into the Japanese culture.