Short Courses

Friday 22nd to Monday 25th July - 9.30am Fri to 4.30pm Mon plus unpacking Saturday 30th July, 10am to 1pm (4 + 1 day workshop)

Blend earth with fire as you immerse yourself over four days in the ancient technique of wood firing. Japanese resident potter Kazuya Ishida will take student’s through packing the kiln, then firing the Anagama over three days and nights, creating the fly ash build up and fire markings characteristic of this type of firing. Then after the kiln cools over the week, return for a day to unpack the works with Kaz and discuss your outcomes.

Level: Intermediate to advanced | Cost: $660 + materials $100

Kasuya Ishida is an innovative ceramicist born in Bizen (famous for its traditional pottery) and now based in Ibe, Japan. Kaz studied under Living National Treasure Jun Isezaki and has worked in Kigbeare Pottery in Devon and Whichford Pottery in the UK. Kazuya has taught and completed residencies at Oxford University, UK and the US, and has had successful solo shows in Japan and London.

Please bring with you: 

• Bisqued STONEWARE pieces 10 -12 pieces - can include up to 4 bowls, cups, vases, sculptual works - no piece to exceed 40cm in height or 30cms in width. Any stoneware clay is suitable.
• Work clothes, enclosed shoes, warm and wet weather jackets.
• BYO meals, snacks, mug & waterbottle

Morning tea, including coffee and tea will be provided each day

Friday 22nd to Monday 25th July, 9.30am Fri to 4.30pm Mon (4 day workshop)

Immerse yourself in the magic of wood firing and wood ash glazes exploring ‘wood ash as glass’ - the residual resource from the firing process on your bisque-fired work. Prepare and mix glazes, before a kiln packing demonstration using shells and wadding, wood fir- ing then during the cooling process delve into glaze preparation, pot design and making for the wood kiln. Simultaneously experience a salt wood firing with Daniel Lafferty.

This will be a rare opportunity to see the Olsen Fast Fire Kiln, the wood fire salt kiln and the anagama kiln firing with Japanese resident Kazuya Ishida at the same time.

Level: Intermediate to advanced | Cost: $660 + $100 materials

Steve Williams’ career as a wood firing potter has focused on generating works that utilise native and local materials for over 30 years. He has presented his innovative approaches to making through exhibition and education, at conferences and festivals in Australia and internationally.

Daniel Lafferty is a wood firer of 40 years, originally studying at the Canberra School of Art. From his property near Cobargo and the Bega Valley he draws on a wealth of raw mate- rials for clay and glaze - black wattle wood ash, feldspar and pyrophyllite - to enrich his is thrown forms. Daniel utilises his natural environment to explore the endless variations within the natural ash glazes capturing the essence of the clay body and the firing process.

IMPORTANT: This is a physical workshop and students should be prepared to help pack kilns, and commit to taking part in the adventure from start to finish.

Please bring with you: 

• Bisqued STONEWARE pieces 10-12 pieces - cup, vase, bowl, plate sizes (approximately one milk crate of works). Works can be sculp- tural, but must not be large. Any stoneware clay is suitable and a range (iron bearing, white, porcelain) could be useful to demon- strate the function of the clay in ash glaze development.
• Work clothes, enclosed shoes, warm and wet weather jackets.
• BYO lunch, snacks, mug & water bottle. Morning tea is provided.

Optional:

• Raw ash for demonstration of glaze prep and mixing
• Examples of your own fired works for critique

Friday 26th to Sunday 28th August, 9.30am to 4.30pm

Discover the ancient Korean metal-working technique of Keum–Boo - the fascinating process of applying 24 carat gold sheet to silver via ‘diffusion bonding’. Explore Keum–Boo over two projects - a pendant or pair of earrings and a ring while you learn basic jewellery techniques with master tutor and fine jeweller, Diane Appleby.

Level: Some experience | Cost: $495 + $140 materials

You will cover:

• Translating aesthetic inspiration into your design, including Wabi Sabi - resonating with the spirit of the makers’ hands and heart
• Sawing, filing, drilling, riveting, annealing, soldering
• Texturing by roller printing, hammering and using punches
• Forming metal by bending, hammering and doming
• Marrying metals using processes such as onlay
• Finishing and polishing

Diane Appleby completed her Master of Art in Gold and Silversmithing at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in 2003. She has taught in the Jewellery and Object Design Department, Sydney Institute of Technology, Design Centre Enmore, and at the College of Fine Art, University of NSW and has exhibited through out the world.

Your materials fee includes a set amount of silver sheet, wire and solder. Copper and brass for married metal will be supplied by Diane at no extra cost.

Please bring with you: 

• Steel ruler
• Fine permanent marker
• Sketch & note book
• Magnifyers or glasses for close fine work
• Mug and water bottle

Optional:

• Jewellers’ pliers - flat fine point, chain nose or round
• Needle file preferably cut 2 eg flat, half round or triangle or set of 6
• File - large (6 inch) flat or half round (cut 2 preferably)
• Drill bit for flexible shaft, any size (eg 1.2, 1.5, 2mm)
• Titanium tweezers - fine

Diane will supply for extra cost if required:

• earring hooks, rivets, jumping and catches
• 24 carat gold sheet for Keum-boo can be purchased from the tutor at cost. Diane estimates approximately $50 for a piece 20mm x 20 mm will be sufficient.

Saturday 27th to Sunday 28th August, 9.30am to 4.30pm

Begin your ceramic glazing journey mixing your own glazes from raw materials for unique and individual results. You will cover various glaze application methods and learn how to adjust glazes to suit each technique. Your outcomes will be fired overnight, available for discussion the following day. On completing this workshop you will feel confident in your knowledge of glaze materials to experiment in recipes and applications to enrich your own studio practice.

Level: All | Cost: $330 + $40 materials

You will cover:

• Studio health and safety - what safety measures should one take when making / mixing / firing glazes.
• Using prominent raw materials and their use in glazing (through discussion of samples and images)
• Various glaze applications for greenware + bisque ware / deco- ration / functionality

Peter Phillips, Sturt’s own studio technician studied ceramics at the National Art School where his focus on glaze materials and atmospheric firing began and continued after graduating in 2015. Studio assistant roles followed including a role at Kil.n. it. Experimental Ceramics studio allowing Peter to develop a mid fire range of glazes, then onto Mud Australia where he continued specialising in glaze making. Recently Peter has worked with Sandy Lockwood absorbing the fundamentals of clay, kiln building, and wood firing, while developing functional stoneware glazes. A period at Blackwattle pottery gave Peter tools to start his own production pottery business in 2019.

Please bring with you: 

• Various bisque ware and/or greenware, test tiles and/or small pots 2-4 pieces
• Notebook and pen
• PPE face mask (essential for glaze making)
• Lunch, mug and water bottle

* Some test tiles will be available for those who require them

Saturday 27th to Sunday 28th August, 9.30am to 4.30pm

Create a beautiful bread board as a vehicle for learning about bench planes and spoke shaves, both fundamental tools for any woodworker. You will learn the history, anatomy and fundamental function of planes as well as the types available to woodworkers and their various specialised uses.

Using a bench plane and a spoke shave, we will focus on the correct use of these tools. There will also be discussion about their selection, tuning and maintenance.
To make the bread board you will first use the plane to flatten both sides of a rough sawn blank to an even thickness then switch to a spoke shave to shape the edges into sinuous curves.

Level: All | Cost: $330 + $55 materials

Paul Nicholson has been a woodworker and furniture maker since graduating from Sturt 20 years ago. He is also an experienced teacher having conducted his own classes for the past 10 years as well as regular sessions at Sturt. His focus in on traditional techniques using hand tools and he enjoys helping people to engage with their tools and watching their skills and confidence grow.