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Porcelain Sculpture Workshop
Toni Pretorious Ceramics, Southern Africa
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Dear Members, At our AGM held on Saturday 28th January a few concerns and ideas were discussed. The cost of our exhibitions are large and we run them at a loss. We are therefore looking for sponsorship and would appreciate any leads. Raising the cost of the entry fees was also agreed upon.. Some members expressed an interest in another wheelwork demonstration and we are looking into this.
Louise Jennings inspired all with images of contemporary ceramics she saw in the UK in 2016 after the short AGM. Details of our next workshop are in this issue and we urge you to book your place as soon as possible. We will provide the porcelain for each member so it will only be a selection of tools you need to bring. Keep creating,
Lynette Morris-Hale
Ceramics, Southern Africa
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Regional Exhibition 23rd May-11 June 2017 .…start working now!
! T E G R O F T ’ N O D 25/26TH OCTOBER MARCH CLAY FESTIVAL Johannesburg
Highly skilled & qualified, Fellow of the Association, Michelle Legg will be presenting workshop. Details to follow
Ceramics, Southern Africa
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Workshop
HANDBUILDING USING NATURE AS OUR INSPIRATION
Our next workshop will be a hand building one by Toni Pretorius. Date: 4th March Venue: Phansi Museum Cost: R350 Time: 9 for 9.30 Bring and share lunch The workshop will be about 3 - 4 hours long. No skill level is necessary, there is something for everyone to learn.
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Participants will learn how to model a small (pendant size) piece of porcelain from a twodimensional image. The focus will be on observing natural textures and shapes and how to then recreate these textures in clay. Each participant will ideally produce a finished product which they can then keep for themselves. Structure of workshop
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Participants choose their pre-modelled pieces accompanied by reference image
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Participants can make a pre-modelled piece from the image to practice getting the shape and volume right (If there is enough time after they have carved the pre-prepared piece and if it is dry enough they can also complete this one)
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We start carving. I will first show them some techniques and then assist them with their own pieces explaining different techniques and showing them as we go.
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Show them how to clean up/finish the pieces, using their own works to point out areas that can be neatened or exaggerated to make them more attractive.
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Discussion about what worked well and what people struggled with. Q&A. teach each other the tricks that they learnt during the making process.
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“Introduction: I will bring some examples for them to look at, the more realistic pieces like birds and so on are nice to illustrate how you can achieve different textures and tones with one or two simple tools. Short presentation: A brief explanation of the steps in the making process and some tips on how to streamline the process, especially when making many pieces at a time. Other points to be discussed include; tips on working with porcelain, how it differs from other clays, what effects can be achieved at the various drying stages of the clay, how to mimic various textures (focus on organic textures), creating focal points on a three-dimensional work, understanding how the medium works, what it will and won’t allow, and how to deal with breakages and other setbacks.
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Tools needed (Per person): Craft knife, stainless steel tool, soft small painting brush (I will bring additional tools for experimenting but participants should be fine with these. (Specific brands not necessary).”
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Toni Pretorius was born and raised in Kimberley where from a young age she was exposed to the art and museum world and encouraged to develop her creative abilities. After matriculating in 2002 she enrolled at the University of the Free State where she completed her diploma in Fine Art in 2006. In 2011 she completed her BTech degree in Fine Art at the Central University of Technology, majoring in sculpture. She is currently employed as an artist in the National Museum’s Design Department and practising as a fine artist.
She has given this workshop in Gauteng to rave reviews so if you want to learn more skills in carving from nature this is the workshop for you. Colleen Lehmkuhl, chairperson of Gauteng Region said, ” Toni's workshop was absolutely fantastic”
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Ceramics, Southern Africa
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Porcelain Sculpture Workshop
Workshop Review by  Kim Millar
What an awesome opportunity it was to attend this hands-on workshop by Toni Pretorius at The Pottery Studio in Bryanston. It was all about taking a 2D image and sculpting it into a 3D piece in porcelain. After a quick introduction we proceeded to push (never pull), paddle and work a small piece of porcelain into a simple form of the image we had selected – no detail we were told, but some of us could not resist! While waiting for our little pieces to dry, we learnt about the properties of porcelain. Some of the pros and cons and how these could be used to our advantage. The workshop followed a structured process. We discovered what should and should not be done at the different drying stages. Ceramics, Southern Africa
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Most of us were so absorbed in the process that Toni insisted we go make tea so that the porcelain had a chance to dry. We were encouraged to closely observe the image and translate what we saw into marks in the porcelain. We learnt how to carve, shave, smooth, fix mistakes and fill holes that had mistakably been pushed through these delicate pieces.
Ceramics, Southern Africa
Not only were we taught new skills, but this Bloemfontein girl gave new meaning to these two words: “Spit and spuzzel� (instant glue - used when adding a piece of porcelain and the tiny little bits of clay that need to be brushed off when carving) respectively. While participants created beautiful birds, beetles and chameleons during this three and a half hour workshop, we left with much more than a 3D piece. We left with knowledge and hands-on experience of how porcelain responds in the hands and tools that work it.
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2017 Subscriptions Ordinary member R470: Pensioner R400:
Ceramic Bank account
Family/couple/organization R750, Ceramics Southern Africa Country Member (200km from Durban) R420 First Na6onal Bank
Acc no 53730022000 Use your name as reference please and email proof of payment to
joannekuter@iafrica.com
Committee Members Lynette MorrisHale morrishale@telkomsa.net 031 266 0543 Mary Slack slackjm@gmail.com 031 572 6108 Carol Tullidge cartul@telkomsa.net 031 765 1247 Lorraine Wilson lorraine@homemail.co.za 031 702 5648 Joanne Kuter joannekuter@iafrica.com. 031 563 5414 Layout Editor cassysart@gmail.com 072 189 7155 Louise Jennings loujen@telkomsa.net Sharon Erichsen (Weaving)sharonleeweaving@hotmail.com ! 10
Ceramics, Southern Africa