Traditional & contemporary craft courses in north Wales
handmade by you in
wernog wood
Earth & fire - pit fired ceramics
See course details, dates, costs, tutors & stories from students below
Earth & fire - pit fired ceramics
See course details, dates, costs, tutors & stories from students below
Over this amazing three day experience, ceramic artist Melina Xenaki will take you on an ancient journey using traditional methods to transform clay into ceramics in a pit fire.
Much of your work will be experimental using both modern and ancient techniques of hand building pots. Having made both coil and pinch pots, you will burnish them before drying them slowly around a small fire.
And then on to the pit firing process which in construction is just as important as your clay. You will dig a shallow pit, collect combustibles & layer your pit to achieve the right heat levels.
You will experiment with decorative techniques and colorants. Cow pies, seaweed, grasses, banana skins, leaves, twigs, copper and coal will all be part of the process.
Special offer last minute offer
£245
use code PITFIRE24 at checkout
(plus £50 course materials)
Tea, coffee and simple lunch included in your course price
We also offer accommodation & evening meals
Click here to see what we offer
This course is aimed at adults, aged 18yrs + and is suitable for beginners to those with experience
Melina Xenaki is now an Athens based ceramic artist. After achieving a first-class BA Hons in Ceramics & Glass in Farnham, she went on to do a Masters at the Royal College of Art.
Melina draws inspiration from her rich Greek heritage & creates unique works that reflect her love for the raw and immediate way ancient artefacts of the Mediterranean carry patterns, animals and plants. Fundamental to her style are her processes of hand building and experimentation with glazes. She is driven by a curiosity to incorporate unusual colours and textures and collects soil, ash and rocks to make her own glazes. Click to see her work
She has collaborated with large architectural practices to create ceramic installations and created an exclusive collection for shops in the British Museum and Benaki Museum of Greek Culture. Alongside her practice as a maker, Melina has taught ceramics at St Ann’s psychiatric hospital and Pentonville men's prison.
Stories from our students
The course was totally magical and I have been raving about it to everyone. - Camilla
This is a description fas one pot was raised from the pit
Melina raised Kevin’s gorgeous hand built pot from the ashes - smoke and seaweed bruises to one side and some red and grey flashes of colour on the base. - Patsy
....
Upcoming Dates
Join the waiting list or express interest in future courses
N.B. If you cannot see the Book Now section, scroll up to Upcoming Dates
If a course is full, please join the waiting list as we will contact you in case of any cancellation ... it does happen!
or
If you would like to attend a course but can't make it on the available date, you can register interest in future dates.