Introduction

This course will concentrate on concepts of decorative glazing using layering and resists, and brushwork to create rich and painterly surfaces. The emphasis will be on how to use glazes and their intrinsic qualities of melt and movement to create patterns and designs that enhance their ceramic forms.

Teaching Method

We will observe, do drawings and come up with various ideas about pattern and design from the beauty of nature in our surroundings to appreciate the use of decorative surfaces. There will be much discussion and a lot of experimentation in order to learn how to conceptualize using layers of glazes and various resists for our decorative purposes. Donna’s methods are quite distinguished from using materials where the result is visually obvious during the process (such as colored slips, colored clays, and underglazes). She will demonstrate all of her various methods of overlapping patterns and glazes and her use of brushwork.

Technique

We will create our forms from coil and slab construction, therefore some basic hand building skills will be required. We will think of form in specific ways as to create those that are also a good canvas for our decorative painterly surfaces. Students will learn to get comfortable and skilled with various ways of using wax resist and liquid latex (mold rubber) in the glazing process. They will have the chance to try many different glaze combinations in order to discover a kind of quintessential ceramic quality of visual depth through layering glazes, brushwork, and overlapping patterns.

Logistics

Students will study in the beautiful environment of La Meridiana. Students are hosted in nearby accommodation and a full meal will be served on all course days.

The artist

Donna Polseno was educated at the Kansas City Art Institute and got her masters at Rhode Island School of Design. She has been honored with two National Endowment Artists Fellowships and a grant from the Virginia Museum of Art.  Her pottery and sculpture have been widely shown in various museums and galleries both nationally and internationally.
Donna has been a visiting artist/teacher twice at Jingdezhen University in China. She has been published in numerous books and magazines and has taught many workshops at schools such as at Penland School, Haystack, Arrowmont, Anderson Ranch and at La Meridiana. She maintains a home and studio in Floyd, Virginia and in Liguria, Italy. Donna created and continues to work for the annual event “Women Working With Clay” Symposium at Hollins University, where she also taught for many years. Most recently she is the Walter Gropius Workshop/Exhibition Artist with a solo show at the Huntington Museum in West Virginia. www.donnapolseno.com