Find new forms drawing from the natural beauty, right outside our doorstep at La Meridianas' Nature Classroom. We will start with sketches that will inform and inspire our work. Then we transfer these ideas into paper patterns that will be applied to slabs of clay. Students will learn how to handle the material in its various states. They will become comfortable getting the material to stand up and hold its form. Robbie Heidinger will demonstrate many ways to incorporate texture into the work, using both found objects and imagined surfaces. As the work sets up we will apply slips, learn resist techniques, monoprinting on clay and more; all to create beautiful vessels fit for the Etruscan gods. Morning demos will prepare you to go from a basic cup structure to goblet, then ewer etc....
Discussions, handouts, and inspiration will be provided - this is an ALL LEVELS class so individual attention will be given to each student to help them reach their goals. The workshop takes place in the Nature studio, in the gardens of La Meridiana and may be reached climbing a set of stairs.

Robbie Heidinger. After receiving a bachelor’s degree from NYU and many years as a commercial animator and textile designer in NYC, Robbie chose to explore the intersection between painting and clay to further her artistic expression. In 1995 Robbie received an MFA in Ceramics from RISD. In 2009 she was awarded Massachusetts’ highest honor -- an Artist Fellowship in Crafts. She has exhibited in numerous galleries and museums across the country. Some highlights are The Archie Bray Foundation, American Museum of Ceramic Art, Howard Yezerski Gallery, San Angelo Museum of Art, and permanent collections of The Crocker Art Museum, CA, Lawrence Art Center, KS, and The Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences, NY. www.robbieheidinger.com