Jack Durling – Ceramic Animal Workshop and Knepp visit

Your Course

In this course you will Join Jack Durling for a 5 day  Ceramic Animal Workshop designed for students who have a good understanding of working with clay and are eager to enhance their skills. You will look at different ways to construct and utilise hand building techniques to develop a range of sculptural pieces that explore different themes and making processes.

In this course, our objective will be to observe wildlife. From the grazing sheep in the fields around in order to create responsive sculptural pieces within the Waldron area. We will also visit Knepp Estate, a groundbreaking rewilding initiative. Utilising your reference materials, you will engage in brief exercises that will encompass both modelled maquettes and drawing. Subsequently, you will investigate hand-building techniques to design your own hollow-formed ceramic animal sculptures.

Course Information:

Runtime: 5 days, 10am – 4:30pm.

Lunch: 12:30pm – 1pm Lunch Break

Tea break: 2pm 15mins

-Subject to change due to trip timings.

Firings: Subject to Studio Policies and Pricing.

Itinerary:

Day 1- Introduction, drawing exercise using your reference material followed by a maquette exercise. This will then be follow by an outdoor activity observing grazing sheep in the surrounding fields of the Waldron. Touching upon sculpting live in location. Later we will then work towards developing a flock of sheep that will encompass freestanding sculptural techniques and the utilisation of armatures.

Day 2- You will be transported by minibus/ or your own transport if you prefer to Knepp Estate to attend a guided tour and safari of the rewilding project, experience and observe animal native to the United Kingdom back in their natural habitat. Knepp Wildland is the first major lowland rewilding project in England, transporting a former arable and dairy farmland into the pioneering the grounds of Knepp Castle in West Sussex. We will then use these observations to make responsive work back in the workshop of the Waldron. So please do bring a suitable camera, sketchbooks. Please bring equipment/laptop/cables to be able to print photos taken at Knepp back at the Waldron Studio printer

Day 3- We will revisit the initial maquette exercise to further explore animal forms to produce a larger scaled hollowed formed animal of your choice. This can either be an animal you have observed and seen on the trips or an animal based on your original reference material. Seeking to produce the initial form of your sculpture. Getting the main body and silhouette in place.

Day 4- In the first half of this day: We will continue to work on your sculptures further exploring techniques, texture to refine your sculpture.

In the second half of the day: You will look at how to create a slab relief piece that could be mounted to the wall.

Day 5- You will be encouraged to further explore but to finalise your projects from the course. Bringing together an informed and cohesive collection of work.

What to Bring:

All attendees must bring printed hardcopies of both photographic and two-dimensional reference materials to the workshop. Consider stepping outside your comfort zone and selecting more than just one animal to select from. Keeping your options open before the workshop is always beneficial. Your instructor will have some references available, but they may not align with the animal you choose to create. A Suitable camera is preferable or a camera phone. Please ensure to print your reference material off in advance of the workshop.

It’s essential to note that you don’t need to provide photo-realistic drawings or possess the ability to draw in that manner. Instead, concentrate on the shapes and forms. Each participant should bring both photographic and two-dimensional reference materials to the workshop. Be mindful of details such as eyes, feet, ears, limbs, and profiles from both the side and head-on if possible.

Please bring suitable clothing for all weather conditions. Dietary requirements and access needs please enquire before booking this course.

Key Information

• Suitable for: Intermediate o Advanced
• Timings: 5-Day masterclass from 10am – 4.30pm
• Catering: A light lunch and refreshments will be provided each day/apart from day trip where lunch can be bought on site .  Please specify any dietary requirements at time of booking.
• Venue: The Waldron Gallery & Studio, TN21 0RA
• Price includes £110 wildlife safari at Knepp and transport to Knepp and back to The Waldron