Pottery Courses
We are offering one week residential pottery courses in the south-west of France. So come and join us for a week of hands on pottery whilst enjoying a holiday in the beautiful Dordogne area, sharing our good home cooking and letting us introduce you to the French rural way of life.
There will be a minimum of 20hours of pottery where you will be introduced to a range of techniques which will enable you to produce you own pots. The course will concentrate on hand building techniques-- coil pots, slab pots, pinch pots and modelling. Although aimed at beginners those people who have some experience of pottery would also be welcome to come and develop their ideas and skills. There will be a chance to glaze your pots and if the weather permits participate in a raku firing. The tuition will be personal as there will be a maximum of six students.
Out of the workshop we will take you out and about to sample the rich rural life of the area which can include visits to the market, bread making where the flour is milled on site, milking time at the goat farm, a traditional meal at a local farm, a visit to a walnut mill.....
You will be looked after in the relaxing surroundings of a historic stone water mill where we will do our best to welcome you with good food, much of it produced locally.
The Courses
From Sunday to Wednesday the course will be held at Le Moulin de la Garrigue. On Thursday and Friday the course will be held at Wendy’s workshop.
The courses will aim to introduce you to the art of pottery and ceramics. Although the course is primarily for beginners it could be possible for more experienced potters to join us. Please negotiate with the tutor.
You would learn
Clay—its properties and how to prepare it for potting
- Hand building techniques
- Coiling
- Slab pots
- Modelling
- Demonstration on the wheel
- Glazing
- What is a glaze?
- Glaze application and methods of different decorative techniques.
You would be able to make 6 - 8 average sized pots.
Course Tutor
Wendy Heslop taught ceramics in Plymouth for 25 years where she gained an extensive knowledge in all areas of pottery. She moved to France 15 years ago since when she has established her own studio from where he teaches and sells her pottery. Wendy uses all the basic hand building techniques – coil, slab, pinch pots, throwing and turning. Her present production is in stoneware clay and glaze fired to 1280°C.
Proposed activities for the week
Saturday
Arrival and welcome meal
Sunday
Morning - Introduction to clay and its preparation
Afternoon - Coil pots, slab pots or pinch pots
Monday
Morning - Continue with coil, pinch or slab pots.
Afternoon - pottery
Early evening - visit to goat farm and milking
Tuesday
Morning - Finish the coil, pinch or slab pots.
Afternoon - pottery
Wednesday
Today the pots will be biscuit fired 1000°C
Morning - Sarlat market
Afternoon - visit to Janicot farm, bread making plus traditional evening meal
Thursday
Morning - glazing the stoneware pots following a demonstration. ( 3 pots)
Afternoon - pottery, demonstration on the wheel
Friday
Morning - raku firing - preparation of glazes and outdoor wood fired kiln
Afternoon - You will be able to glaze the rest of your pots and participate in an exciting raku firing. You will be able to take your finished raku pots back with you.
Saturday - Delivery of the pots fired in the stoneware glaze firing.
Departure.
PRICES
900€ and (600€ for friends of partner who don’t want to participate in the pottery)
Price includes:
- All tuition plus materials
- Full board and lodging for 7 nights including breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Visits to local farms, market etc.
Price does not include:
- Journey to the Moulin de la Garrigue
- Postage for sending you any pots not finished before the end of the course.