21A-2024 – Eve Carrobourg – Glaze course

Aims

In this this glaze course students will receive specific information about the nature of glazes and the part played by different materials in their formation Thus, they gain the base for approaching the making of their own glazes.

Nature of the course

The glaze course will focus on oxidation glazes at high temperature, for firing in the electric kiln. Firstly, participants will mix and fire glaze tests and material tests. These tests will cover many practical aspects: mixing and preparing a glaze batch, designing a glaze experiment, applying a glaze (on tiles and small test-pots), testing glazes on different clay-bodies (stoneware and porcelain), and firing. These visual supports, joint with the technical explanations will guide the participants to comprehend how a glaze works, why it does what it does, in addition to understanding the role of the different raw materials and the colors that can be achieved. Successively each participant will design a personal experiment in order to learn how to modify and adjust a glaze.

Teaching method

The approach relies on a practical and empirical method. Infact, the comprehension of glazes will derive from the observation of phenomena perceived in the glaze experiments. Furthermore, the scientific approach derived from the work of Herman Seger will be introduced on the last day, once the practical work has been completed.
Basic knowledge about ceramic materials is recommended.

Logistics

On every classday, a delicious meal will be served. Lodging is included as well. Some previous ceramic experience is of advantage.

The Artist

After her studies in Art History in Paris and Florence, Eve Carrobourg pursued in the field of ceramics. She was trained at La Meridiana under the guidance of its founder Pietro Maddalena and John Colbeck. She extended her collaboration by staying as workshop-technician for the School where she discovered a true passion for glazes.
After having completed a specialization on high-fire glazes in France, she worked as a full-time teacher on glaze-technology at the CNIFOP Ceramic Centre in France.
She was prized by the “Marcel-Bleustein-Blanchet Foundation” to fulfill a research on glazes. She is currently completing her research in order to publish a book on high-fire glazes.