Janene Waudby Surface, Mark Making & Smoke Firing

Your Course

Surface, Mark Making & Smoke Firing

A two-day hands-on course exploring the relationship between form, surface, touch and mark making, culminating in a smoke firing using natural materials.

This course is designed for potters of all levels who want to develop a more intuitive and experimental approach to decorating their work. We’ll look at how the surfaces of our pots can respond to, rather than simply describe, their forms and how touch can become as important as sight in the making process.

Day 1 Form, Surface & Smoke Firing

We’ll begin by making a series of small, closed pinch forms like miniature rocks, seed pods and other organic forms. While we work, we’ll discuss different approaches to mark making, the importance of form and surface, and the value of breaking the rules and experimenting.

There will be demonstrations of:

• Mark making and surface development
• Carving techniques
• Slip transfer
• Slip preparation
• Burnishing and surface preparation

You’ll then have the opportunity to work on some of your own leather-hard pieces, using these techniques to build and develop their surfaces.

Smoke firing

After lunch, we’ll turn our attention to smoke firing. We’ll discuss the process, materials and variables involved, and how different preparation techniques can produce very different results.

We’ll then smoke fire a selection of small pieces. Work should be no larger than approximately grapefruit size, and bowls are not suitable for this firing method.( You should bring a few bisc pieces- size and number will be confirmed nearer the time).

All work will be burnished, and participants will be encouraged to prepare some pieces with Terra Sigillata and others without, allowing us to compare the resulting surfaces.

Natural materials such as seaweed, hessian and leaves can be brought along for experimentation. We’ll also use wood shavings, foil and clay for simple saggars. The firing itself requires only a couple of incinerator dustbins and wood shavings.

We’ll finish the day by washing and waxing the fired pieces and looking closely at the results, considering what the smoke firing has done to the different surfaces.

Day 2 Developing & Finishing Surfaces

On the second day, we’ll continue developing the surfaces of our work, with further opportunities to experiment with:

• Carving
• Slip transfer
• Found and locally sourced clays
• Layering and building surface
• Burnishing and finishing

We’ll use the results from the smoke firing to inform our decisions and consider how preparation, materials and firing conditions affect the final surface.

We’ll also look at finishing products and sealants, particularly for work that isn’t being glazed or is only being mid-fired.

Key Information

• Suitable for: All levels welcome
• Timings: 2-Day masterclass from 10am – 4.30pm
• Catering: A light lunch and refreshments will be provided each day.  Please specify any dietary requirements at time of booking.
• Venue: The Waldron Gallery & Studio, TN21 0RA