If you can’t make it to my workshop, then this is what we’re going to do;  we start by  rolling out a slab to a desired thickness of about  1 to 1,5 cm . When rolling out a slab it is a good idea to start by throwing it across the table in different directions until it is somewhere close to 5-6 cm thick. Roll the clay with the rolling pin, taking care not to roll excessively over the edges as they may get too thin. Roll two or three times on one side and then flip it over and roll some more. Leave the slab to dry to a soft leather-hard stage. The clay needs to be able to bend without cracking, but you don’t want it to be so soft that you leave fingerprints in your clay as you work.
Choose the size of your plate and place it upside down to use as a template for cutting the slab.
As you cut, keep your knife perpendicular to your work surface to create a square rim. Remove excess clay and smooth out the rims by sliding your finger across the edge of the rim.
Flip the clay slab, smooth the top edge then place it into a paper plate, lining up the edges.

Experiment with pressing the clay into the paper plate with your hands or you can sandwich your clay between two plates.  The plate you are creating will have a different look depending on your
chosen method.
Allow the plates to dry to leather hard in the bottom paper plate,  and then check if they stack together nicely and if they sit on the table without rocking. If not, you will need to damp them up a bit with a flower mister or a wet sponge and then put them back in the mold to straighten them out. Next,  check  the rim of each plate to see if it needs shaping or smoothing down. You may want to write your name at the bottom of the plate at this stage.
During the next workshop on Thursday the 29th we will look at different ways of decorating the plates. I’ll discuss this  in my next blog, so welcome back!

To sign up for this workshop or any other, please go here

Nichos!
A Nicho is a small shrine shaped to reflect the nature of its content such as buildings, hearts, cats, Brad Pitt, chickens and angels.
They may be self standing, wall hung or even worn as necklaces and are meant to serve as personal devotional altars. They can be fairly ornate or very simple as the mood dictates.

This is a Mexican Nicho made of painted wood showing the path of romantic love…

This is a contemporary ceramic Nicho showing a  Sumerian deity.

Nichos come in all shapes and forms…this is another Mexican one

I would like to offer up a workshop in 3 parts where we create a small altar to something that feel important. It could be music, chickens, food, nature or anything you find amusing or lovely. It can even be something you don’t like but would like to play with.

Saturday 10th of September 11-3pm;
During the first workshop we will discuss the design of our Nichos and make our own sprig molds (simple one piece molds) out of plaster of Paris – these will form the basis for our Nichos.
To this workshop you will need to bring small objects to cast . They can be anything from children’s plastic toy animals, shells,  simple jewellery or  ferns and plants. If you can’t think of anything to bring, I have a lot of  suitable items in my studio for you to use.

Cost; £40 for the day, including all materials, tuition and firings plus tea, coffee and cake!
Please bring a packed lunch!

Saturday 17th of September 11-3pm
Today we assemble our Nichos using the sprig molds we created last week.

Cost; £40 for the day, including all materials, tuition and firings plus tea, coffee and cake!
Please bring a packed lunch!

Cost; £40 for the day, including all materials, tuition and firings plus tea, coffee and cake!

During this workshop we concentrated on exploring textures while making ceramic bowls using hump and press molds. The bowl to the left is made by draping sheets of clay across a plaster hump mold and removing it a few hours later when the clay has hardened enough to keep the shape. We still had to shore it up with a towel tightly wrapped across the bottom of the bowl…
I love collecting plants from the garden to use in my workshops

Quaker grass…

Jo is making a bowl using a press mold and ferns

Andrew opted for ferns, too.
My next ceramic workshop is planned for Sunday 22May at 10.30-1pm. Please contact me here if you’d like to attend. My workshops are suited for everyone whatever previous experience. There are still two places available!

One workshop where you are guaranteed to walk away with more digits than you arrived with. To find out more, please go here

A new ceramic workshop is planned at my studios in Dudley Road, Hastings, for May 14th at 10-3pm.
There is still one place available if you care to join us!
During this workshop we will concentrate on making bowls without using a potter’s wheel. I have made some plaster molds

from which to create individual bowls

Here is one such press molded bowl. It has got melted glass tessarae in the bottom.

This is another bowl – the frogs are added while the bowl is still inside the mold.

This bowl was made with the clay wrapped around the outside of the mold instead of on the inside. The possibilities are endless…
Find out how to join at http://annakeiller.com/workshops/workshop-diary/
Or email me here

I have now had a chance to update my ceramic workshop diary with new dates for the autumn, and here they are..
http://annakeiller.com/workshops/workshop-diary/

There are two different workshop types to choose from;
Introduction to sculpting, plaque or bowl making without a wheel. These classes take place on Sundays from 10am – 3pm and include lunch, tea, coffee and cake. We basically work from 10am until lunch which is home made pasta with local sea food and salad followed by pud and coffee. I use organic produce and bread from Judges bakery.
After lunch we finish what we started during the morning session. Two weeks later, when I have fired the work, we meet up again to glaze and smoke fire.
These workshops are suitable for beginners and for people who have worked with clay before . The groups are small with max. 6 people.
The cost for two workshops is £70 including all materials, firings and lunch.

The 5 session workshops take place on Saturday afternoons and cover coiling, slab building and press moulding techniques as well as glazing and smoke firing. The sessions are 2.5 hours long and the cost for all 5 sessions including materials, firings, tea and refreshments is £120. Groups are small with max 6 participants.

I am not sure what goes on in that seagull head of hers but she is clearly very affectionate and has a good eye ….

COURSE OPTION ONE: A five sessions workshop covering essential ceramic techniques such as coiling, slab building, press moulding and glazing. Each session is 2.5 hours long including a teabreak, and the aim is for you to have fun and come away with bowls and sculptures you are really happy with. The groups are small, so please sign up early to avoid disappointment.
Starting date; Tuesday Jan.12th at 6.30 pm
Course costs just £110 + materials (approx. £10) 

COURSE OPTION TWO: A five sessions workshop where we focus on  techniques covered during previous workshops plus an  exploration of  unique smoke firing techniques which I have developed over many years using sawdust and galvanised dustbins! A lot of fun and amazingly easy to learn. The sessions are 2.5 hours long,  including a teabreak.
Starting date; Saturday Jan.16th 11am-1.30pm
Course costs just £110 + materials (approx. £10)

I will also be running a Weekend smoke firing workshop for beginners. No previous experience necessary.

The workshop span two weekends and cost £35 per weekend and include all materials, tuition and a lovely lunch.
First workshop take place Sunday 7th March at 10-3pm at my studios in Dudley Road in Hastings.
During this session we create ceramic bowls and sculptures which I’ll bisque fire ready for our second meeting on Sunday 21st March 10-3pm when we will smoke fire the work in the garden outside my studio. Smoke firing in galvanised dustbins using sawdust  is a technique I have worked on for over 10 years and I believe it is unique to me. It is amazingly easy to learn, though, and fun.

Maximum of 5 per workshop – please book quickly to avoid disappointment. There is a deposit of £10 to secure a place.

For further workshops, please go here .