The Pottery Studio To Die For – Barro.Co Clay Studio in San Miguel de Allende
One of the highlights of the Figurative Sculpture Workshop that I attended in San Miguel de Allende was that it was held at Barro.Co Clay Studio in San Miguel de Allende.
We arrived in San Miguel de Allende a day early so dropped by the studio to have a look. And Wow! What a look!
Adria and Alberto have this place fitted out so beautifully!
Here are some pics of the studio!
‘I am really so fortunate to have a massive pottery studio- see previous blog post. One might think that MORE space is a good thing … and it is to a point. But in a way it’s like cooking in a massive kitchen – things aren’t as convenient, you don’t know where you put things, and you are running from place to place just to cook a meal. That’s sort of the way it felt working out in the barn all the time.
As a result, my husband and I “discovered” two old storage rooms that we have recently made into an enclosed, cleaner, quieter, more wind-proof and more efficient work area!
I’m not giving up any of my space in the big part of the barn though!
The new space will lend itself to more private creativity with a great view and a bit more creature comforts – it will he easier to heat, cool and keep clean.
Come see me!
Love to all and Happy Potting!
Marian
What is it about clay? It can create the most amazing symbiotic relationships amongst humans. I suppose that is true about anything that creates passion, involves learning, and promotes creativity.
But I find that with clay, you find the most wonderful people. And I love their stories…as they each have one. How they found their way to, with or through clay. For some, it is therapy. For others, a livelihood. Or others, simply a passion to create. Whatever the reason, all these crazy, lovely people share a common thread through clay…and it can be a powerful bond!
I loved the tattoo that Kim Louise Glidden had done on her arm:
It says it all! We all get through it all by following the clay.
Peace out, fellow clay addicts!
Marian
While watching The Antiques Road Show, a vase by William Howson Taylor from Ruskin Pottery was valued. The vase had a “soufflé” glaze on it- which I’d never heard of! But it looks a bit like a “floating blue” glaze that I use.
Here is some info on that glaze:
“The pottery produced was notable for the innovative glazes used on a range of brightly coloured pots, vases, buttons, bowls, tea services and jewellery. The glazes devised by William Howson Taylor included misty soufflé glazes, ice crystal effect glazes – ‘crystalline’, lustre glazes resembling metallic finishes, and the most highly regarded of all, “sang de boeuf” and Flambe glazes which produced a blood red effect. The ‘sang de boeuf’ glazes were created using reduction of copper and iron oxides at high temperature. This was a difficult technique, first developed in China in the 13th century and reinvented by several art potters in Europe in the late 19th century. William Howson Taylor was one of the principal exponents of ‘high fired’ techniques, producing a range of colours and unique ‘fissured’ glaze effects.” Source
It’s so sad, and interesting, that these glazes were destroyed and not passed down!! So we are still struggling to make these beautiful glazes!
“When the studio closed in 1935 the formulae for the glazes and all the pottery documentation were deliberately destroyed, so that the unique Ruskin products could never be replicated.” Source
Keep the faith!
Marian
This is such a great tip on mixing glazes in a bucket with a drill and paint mixer that I saw at Barro.Co Clay Studios in San Miguel de Allende – GENIUS!!!
When I saw Alberto doing this- mixing a bucket of slip or glaze – I had to shoot a video to share! Thanks Adria and Alberto! Your expertise and generosity were limitless!
So next time you are going to mix a bucket of glaze or slip, try this neat little trick and stay NEAT! No more spattering!
Luv to all,
Marian
It was pretty much “a lark” in the beginning. I’ve always wanted to go to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of San Miguel de Allende – an amazing town 3 1/2 hours out of Mexico City- BTW Mexico City has a population of 28 million! It’s huge! Australia has a TOTAL population of about 22-23 million!
Secondly, it was my birthday (a big one) and Ronnie said he’d go with me!
Then my daughter, Liz, and her girlfriend, Hannah, decided they could meet us there over Easter break!! I don’t usually get to see my daughter but once- sometimes twice a year- so this was tremendous!
The big bonus was being in San Miguel de Allende over Easter– it’s a huge celebration and crazy and beautiful and fun- not to be missed! You should definitely go someday!
There was an amazing lineup of sculptors to lead the workshop – Lisa Clague, Cristina Cordova Soto, and Kelly Rathbone Rebo – all amazing!
Although I am a functional potter, I felt that I could learn things that would take my functional pottery to a new level.
Not that I had never tried to sculpt- I made a totem that was a life size she-image of me! Blog Post On That Here. Very much a caricature, but it taught me about all the things I didn’t know!
I’ve NEVER had a sculpture class so the other attendees were probably wondering what the heck I was doing there, as many of them are quite talented and schooled in the art of sculpture. But I paid my fees and learned heaps! I didn’t make anything that I would keep as the shipping fees from Mexico to Australia would be cost prohibitive, but I did have a “go” at a head and know where I’m going with that and hope to be able to show that to you before too long.
BUT HERE’S THE REAL STORY!
What I didn’t count on was that I was transformed – changed – in my thinking. When we were in the plane back to Australia, I was watching an episode of Game of Thrones – season 4 last 2 episodes to get ready for season 5!!
– and I noticed in the first scene a head- it looked sculpted and I noticed everything- the eyes, the nose, the ears -and I just started weeping!
I realized at that moment that I had been changed – I would never be able to think about clay in the same way.
It was like a religious experience where you feel overwhelmed and moved, because you understand – you believe! And this was how I felt. All my years in clay felt so insignificant – like I was only beginning – my thoughts, views, the context and my understanding of clay and my work had been changed forever!
Watching the instructors and all the workshop participants creating their sculptures of clay and learning so much, I have begun to know where I want to go with my clay work- part functional – part sculptural- but I do know that it will be emotive, sensual, evocative and charismatic.
I have the knowledge and the skills, now to do the work.
Thanks to all the instructors, Adria and Alberto of Barro.Co Clay Studio, and all the fabulous class participants that I feel privileged to have met.
A more Pictorial post will follow.
Luv and good vibes to you all.
Marian
There are the greatest pics on Instagram! Here’s my favorites of the week.
My Instagram feed is at marianwilliamspottery
Cheers!
Marian
Several weeks ago, I was privileged to attend a workshop held by the Ceramic Arts Queensland featuring Candone Wharton.
I arrived at Brisbane Arts Institute to join a group of artists from all over the country – Brisbane, Noosa, Darwin, Maleny, Gold Coast and others.
Candone is an American raku artist and had just been in Ubud, Bali, doing workshops there.
Candone states on her website: “My education is American, the firing technique is Japanese, the glaze influences are from Morocco, and the forms are inspired by ancient architecture and vessels.”
Her unique way of building vessels, especially the basketweave pattern, and her lovely glazes have made her quite famous as a ceramic artist.
Her generosity in sharing her techiques was amazing and we learned so much.
As part of the workshop, we all got to handbuild pots, which were then bisqued and then we raku’d them on the second day of the workshop – quite a treat!!!
Here’s my raku’d piece:
Here are some of Candone Wharton’s work – I have alot to aspire to!
I recently noticed a gorgeous turquoise butterfly. Her wings were iridescent and it make me wish that I could create that look on my pottery!
And then I saw the work of Johanna DeMaine!!!
I’m obsessed with all that glitters and shines! I love raku! and now I LOVE Lustre!!!
So I signed up for Johanna DeMaine’s two-day workshop on Lustres – Just Another Layer.
I headed up to Landsborough, Queensland for the workshop – decided to take a couple of side trips on the way!
Johanna is an amazing instructor, artist, and host! She prepared a fab lunch each day and accommodated our every need!
To see more of Johanna’s work, check out her website!
I highly recommend attending her workshop if you are interested in onglaze, lustre, decals, etc!
Lustre, baby, lustre!
Marian
Well, yes, and it’s in Mexico. San Miguel de Allende – a place I’ve always dreamed of visiting. Ronnie said he’d go with me! So here we are in a plane for a 30 hour trip from Australia!! I can’t wait!I recently read THE FOUR HOUR WORK WEEK by Timothy Ferriss – sexy title- but that’s really not all it’s about. One of his tenets is that we shouldn’t wait for retirement for retirement- that those “breaks” should happen all along the way- not just at the end of our careers. But one of the questions that arises if you do this, is “Why am I here?” “What’s my purpose in life?”
Shouldn’t I be doing something ‘important’ with my life?
Ferriss says, that he believes that we are here to be loved, to love others and to never stop learning – that’s why we are here! And when you think of it like that it takes all the pressure off and life can be so much more enjoyable.
So, yes, I’m taking another workshop! Learning heaps! And loving others – so I’m good!
Just think of the possibilities!
Marian
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