Introduction

Wandering into the Narrative is the opportunity to dedicate four weeks to clay in a marvelous and inspiring environment that we will explore during some field trips. Our intention is to create ceramic objects that are enhanced by visual images from stories, memories, dreams, myths & imaginings.  Inspiration for our clay work also comes from the richness of our surroundings… Tuscan history, culture, atmosphere, countyside, food, and wine.

The Program

THE FIRST WEEK.. we will be focused on drawing and painting on paper, building skills and on trying to attract the muses.
Furthermore, we’ll have demonstrations and exercises in color mixing, drawing people, drawing plants, and landscape and some evocative drawing games. Some excercises will be  designed to quiet the mind and make room for the creative spirit to enter. We will spend a little time every day working in silence to enhance our concentration

THE SECOND WEEK… working in Clay
We will be creating simple slab pots, vessels and wall pieces to hold our imagery.  Think of a Grecian Urn, or a Platter holding a circle of dancers, or your garden in bloom in a serving bowl, a dragon on the wall …or climbing up a vase.  We will be working with Terracotta Clay, clay slips and beautiful, Italian colored stains… traditional Mediterranian materials. There will demonstrations in building slab pots, vessels and wall pieces, designed to hold our imagery.   We’ll have plenty of time for making our work.

THE THIRD WEEK … We will be putting it all together…enhancing our work with line, pattern, color and imagery.  Demos and excercises will be on decorative techniques for ceramics, including stencils, stamping, resists, carving, direct painting,composition, issues of scale, sgriffito and more.

THE FOURTH WEEK… Glaze Firing, Show and Tell, Celebration and Closure.

Other things

Wandering into the Narrative is also exploration and enjoyment of Italian culture.

FOOD… la Meridiana provides a wonderful, large mid day meal every day of the workshop, and two teas. Breakfast is on our own as are most dinners.  Others can be pot luck or out for Pizza.
GROCERY SHOPPING – we’ll be taken to the Co-op for basic supplies & We LOVE the weekly outdoor Markets in nearby towns.
HOUSING…la Meridiana provides housing in  Neighboring Houses, an easy walk to the Studio… well equipped for your comfort, kitchens, bathroms & laundry facilities included.
CULTURE… We will have a few field trips to Florence & other cultural localls to inspire & educate us.  It is also the time for the Olive Harvest in Tuscany… Hmmm!

This workshop is open to Art Lovers with all levels of experience. It is well suited to Potters who want to explore color, and to Painters who just want to get their hands in some clay.   Some experience with clay is helpful, but not required.

The artist

Jan Edwards became a Studio Potter after an education in Fine Arts and she has been making pots for forty years. Her home and studio are in Portland Oregon.  There she makes unique, useful pots, custom dinnerware, decorative Tiles, and Drawings in Clay for the walls.   She regularly teaches ceramics at the Community College and the City Art Center. She loves to travel, teaching workshops, especially about putting line, pattern and colour on clay work. www.clayjan.com