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Pottery Club News

April Club Night

13/4/2018

 

Slip/Engobe demonstration By Renate

We witnessed a wonderful demonstration of engobe decoration by Renate Galetzka on Tuesday evening, 10th April.

Renate was born in Germany and was on her OE in the 1980's when she met a Kiwi chap (and married him); she says she is still on her OE. As part of her travels she discovered the art of ceramics; she took classes, worked for one of NZ pottery's great dames, Frederika Ersten and gained her Trade Certificate in Pottery. The traditional Swiss mountain engobe decorated earthenware became an interest; from this Renate has developed her own designs and style producing wonderfully coloured pieces.

In New Zealand we tend to use the word 'slip' for a clay slurry wether it is natural or coloured, however engobe is the word for any coloured slip.
To make an engobe to Renate's specifications we will be making our own engobes in the upcoming workshop, at the start of July, where Renate will elaborate in more detail on the recipe, do's and don'ts and tips of the trade regarding making, using and decorating with engobes. Keep an eye out for details

Some techniques that Renate has developed are; select good brushes that hold a good amount of engobe and use one brush per colour (this prevents altering the colour onto the pot. Pots should be leather hard; from her demonstration this showed an excellent uptake of the engobe by the pot. When beginning to decorate your work, start with the outside first, the inside next and the rim is last. Use ones free hand to steady the hand with the brush (see this in all the photo's)
Renate's inspiration for her decoration designs comes from Dr Seuss and from her daughter's time as a circus trapeze artist.

A five sided vase was produced and Renate proceeded to demonstrate some of the techniques that may be used to get an engobe decoration design onto a pot: paper resist, where a cut-out pattern of some paper provides a profile, sponging either randomly or in a pattern, drawing/dotting with a slip trailer (produces a texture as well) and sgraffito.

After bisque firing the pieces are glazed with a clear glaze.

​Renate's demonstration showed us what we can all produce pieces of beauty and interest using the techniques that she uses. It may take us  a little longer but we can enjoy the process in the meantime. Thank Renate.

Welcome Potters to the April/May News

3/4/2018

 
Hi potters, just a note or two on the happenings around our club and the Canterbury area,
 Club news first: 
 You will have seen our new raku area outside our rooms this will be used this week for the Wednesday am class Raku a good trial for our next club raku.

Tuesday club night, 10 April at 7.00pm

Renate will demonstrate how to use slip (with a further slip workshop in June)


Slip/Engobe demonstration evening

Making, use and application of colour slips
Renate will demonstrate how she makes her slips, how to achieve different outcomes and what huge choice of application options there are. Just to mention a few; slip trailing, stamping, sgraffito and wax/paper resist. There will be a favourite for everybody. This evening will be in preparation for a one day workshop in June, where participants will make their own slips/Engobe (to take home), try out different application techniques and find their favourite one.

Next club night May 8th starting 7.00pm will be our special meeting, you will have received your constitution with amendments. Please attend as this is important to the progress of our club; no pressure just to vote.

Our website and face book are very active; check them out as this is now our means of communicating with everyone. 
Monday & Wednesday am and pm classes are very popular; if you are in one of those classes and wish to continue next term  please send your enrolment for the 2nd term as preference is given to existing students mtpleasantpottery@gmail.com  Please pay direct credit  Mt Pleasant pottery account:  03 1591 0083454 00 with name and class. The fee is $120.

SUBS are overdue. This will be your last newsletter if you're not a financial member. Please pay $45 direct credit with name & subs; many thanks.

School holiday classes: 2 sessions in the first week for 12 to 16 year olds,
Monday 16th, Tuesday 17th and  Wednesday 18th, 10.00am to 12.00 noon and 1.00pm to 3.00pm.  A glazing day will be the last Friday of the holidays 27th, 10.00am to 11.00 and 12.00 to 1.00pm. Bookings to mtpleasant@gmail.com As this is a sponsored class there will be no charge   Bring along a old shirt and towel. There are 8 students to a class which is a good number to play and learn about clay.

Open day at the hub a week ago, where the tiles the group made, looked beautiful on the pizza oven and blend in with the overall area. Have a look when you are next at the hub. Good team work.
Canterbury News

Ben Carter is coming in May. The NZ Potters newsletter with information was sent in a separate email (Sun 1st April). On Friday 11th May, at Halswell Potters, will be a one day workshop; contact halswellpotters@gmail.com 

Canterbury Potters have Ben on Sat and Sun 12th &13th May; contact Canterburypotters@gmail.com for their 2 day workshop.

Contact either club if you are interested in attending these workshop; it is not often we get potters of his experience in New Zealand. 

 Any queries please contact your committee Mtpleasant@gmail.com

    Author

    The Secretary and Members - Mt Pleasant Pottery Group.

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Christchurch, New Zealand
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