'Hand Building Pottery Workshop' - with Peggy Ericson

The next in our series of workshops is  'Hand Building Pottery' with local potter Peggy Ericson.

Hand Building is an ancient pottery-making technique that involves creating forms without a pottery wheel, using the hands, fingers, and simple tools. Using two of the most common techniques - pinch pottery and coil building, Peggy will expertly guide you through creating three simple pieces - a succulent pot, a vessel and a display piece. When the session has finished, your terracotta pieces will go through the firing process and be available for collection.

Peggy is a well established potter who is a long standing member of the Gisborne Artists and Potters Group. Having exhibited throughout the country, Peggy's pieces, often inspired by natural forms and in tones of the earth, can be found in private, gallery and museum collections

In relation to her work, Peggy says

"I love the marks on the land, the marks my hands leave on the clay. My sculptures are mainly land forms - textural, raw and organic.

I like to use oxides and coloured slips for my surface decoration - rubbed back to expose the clay and to create lovely textural effects.

I enjoy primitive raw forms of firing. Most of my small burnished pieces are smoked in either sawdust pit, raku or bonfire firing, producing beautiful, smooth lustrous forms which are lovely to touch and hold in your hand."

This will be a hands on workshop with all materials supplied. Suitable for beginners.