FLUX:
WHERE THE MAGIC HAPPENS
Soda
Surface workshop
with
Eva Champagne
June
3-16, 2018
Weave, unravel; express,
obliterate.
In
this workshop, participants will experience the serendipitous nature of firing
in a soda atmosphere: what the soda contributes, what it takes away. There is a
wonderful sense of freedom in giving a work over to the atmospheric firing
process, and a sweet anticipation of results which cannot be entirely
predicted. The process can be described as a collaboration between the artist’s
planning and expression, and the kiln’s sweeping endowments and editing.
The
workshop will be focused in two dimensions: Surface treatment techniques and
atmospheric firing. Participants will layer underglazes, flashing slips,
underglaze pencils, and glaze, creating varied, colorful, and lively surfaces.
Methods include using wax to mask, brushing, pouring, slip trailing, etc, with
an emphasis on strategic combinations, layering, and experimentation. And then we will give these highly expressive
works over to the soda firing process, allowing it to have the final word in
design.
Sunday,
June 3 GETTING
TO KNOW EACH OTHER MOKSA
restaurant
6pm:
Meet at Moksa, introduce ourselves, image talk, get excited!
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Monday, June 4 HIT
THE GROUND RUNNING
We’ll discuss some soda firing history,
the many different effects of firing with soda (with images) and outline our
strategy for accomplishing as much as possible in our given time. Then, a tour
of the studio, kilns, equipment, and materials available to us.
Gaya
will provide bisque-fired test cylinders of all the clay bodies they make. We
will make simple but thorough tests from them for the firing tomorrow, using
underglazes, flashing slips, underglaze pencils, and glaze. We’ll keep
scrupulous notes in our sketchbooks for each test piece to refer to
post-firing.
*Participants
are encouraged to bring bisque-fired work (cone 10!) from home to fire, but
best if they save those pieces for the second firing, when we have the time and
the arsenal of techniques to really have fun with them.*
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Tuesday,
June 5 LOAD THE BALICAT
For
the first half of today, we’ll finish our test pieces, mix wadding, and
complete any other preparations for firing the kiln. Our test pieces are to be
straightforward (not to be confused with “boring” or “simple”)
information-gathering objects.
After
lunch, we’ll begin loading the BaliCat, and sign up for firing shifts.
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Wednesday,
June 6 FIRE!!! (AND MAKING
THINGS)
Firing
teams will take turns tending the kiln, those not actively firing will begin
making forms for the next kiln load. I will demonstrate both wheel throwing and
hand-building techniques for creating simple forms to be three-dimensional
canvases for surface expression that take best advantage of the soda
atmosphere. Some time after lunch, we should be introducing soda into the kiln;
firing should conclude by early evening or before.
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Thursday,
June 7 BUILDING AND
DEMONSTRATIONS
While
the kiln cools, we will continue to make our forms and begin to consider
surface. Texture considerations will include: stamping, sprigging, carving, as
well as the building process itself creating texture. I will demonstrate these.
The emphasis will be on making as many forms as we can, in a variety of heights
and widths, so we can fill the kiln with a lot of work. So, rather than be
precious about a few pieces, we want to make a large number of works, to have
that many more examples to review and learn from at the end.
I’ll
demonstrate some techniques for underglaze application at the wet/leather hard
stage. These might include: image transfer (using newsprint), woodblock
printing, brushing and sponging.
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Friday,
June 8 UNLOADING THE KILN, SURFACE
DEMONSTRATIONS, MAKING
Unload
the kiln!!! We’ll lay out the work on tables as they were in the kiln, to get
an idea of how the atmosphere moved about during the firing. We’ll discuss
reduction and oxidation pockets in the kiln, and their effects on colors,
textures and temperatures. We should have thorough notes to share with each
other that will guide our work for the next firing.
After
the thoroughly-discussed unload, we’ll continue to make our new batch of work,
and I’ll demonstrate mishima, sgraffito, and using wax as a resist to activate
a surface.
*ALL
building must be complete by the end of the day today.
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Saturday,
June 9 SURFACE WORK
No
more building today! The entire day will be dedicated to completing the green
stage of surface work and drying our pieces. I will be available to repeat
demos or for one-on-one help. We load all the work in the bisque kiln at the
end of the day!
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Sunday,
June 10 FREE
DAY!
Because
all of our work is in the bisque kiln, today is a great day to plan fun,
exciting, or relaxing activities on your own. Ask us for suggestions!
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Monday,
June 11 NEXT STEP: MORE SURFACE AND GLAZING
DEMONSTRATIONS
First
thing in the morning, we’ll unload the bisque kiln and get a good look at all
the work for the next firing. We’ll discuss what’s next for surface: this will
include some images of rich, active, layered surfaces using flashing slips,
more layers of underglaze colors, and glaze.
I’ll
demonstrate different glaze application methods, such as dipping, brushing,
sponging, slip trailing, and of course using wax to control the glaze design.
As before, we must make notes in our sketchbooks of everything we do, so that
we can share our techniques with others and duplicate the things that turn out
well at a later date. Experimentation is encouraged! The emphasis will be on
expressiveness and variety to get the most information from our experience
together.
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Tuesday,
June 12 WORK DAY (BUILDING LAYERS OF
SURFACE EXPRESSION)
The
whole day is devoted to our surface work. I will be available for more demos
and one-on-one assistance. In addition, we will make our cone packs, draw
rings, and wadding for tomorrow’s firing. Today we’ll sign up for firing teams
as well.
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Wednesday,
June 13 FINISH UP AND LOAD THE BALICAT
We
will begin loading the kiln before lunch. All completed work will be arranged
on tables according to height, to facilitate this. Some last minute work can be
completed today, but for the most part, we should be finished so that we can
all focus on loading strategies.
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Thursday,
June 14 FIRE!!!
Firing
teams will take turns tending the kiln. We will estimate when the soda
introduction can be expected, and everyone should be present for that part.
Otherwise, if not on firing duty, participants are free to come and go
throughout the day.
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Friday,
June 15 EXCURSION!
Kiln is cooling. EXCURSION
outside the studio!!!
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Saturday,
June 16 THE BIG REVEAL
(DRUM ROLL PLEASE…)
Unload
the kiln, lay out work as we did last time.......discuss the results. Bring
your sketchbook so we can share information about how we achieved our surfaces.
Summation of the experience. Group Hug! Tearful farewells!
*Schedule is subject to revision prior to the commencement of
the actual workshop
**all lunches during studio days will be catered family-style
in the studio mezzanine midday
